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EU Observer (2 September 2026)

Andrew RETTMAN

Russia has quietly sent home some 20 diplomats from Brussels, in line with European demands – and without taking revenge on the EU mission in Moscow.

“The Russian mission to the EU has complied on time with our decision to cap its maximum size to 40 people, excluding the head of mission,” said EU foreign affairs spokesman Christian Wigand on Tuesday (1 September).

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas had given Russia’s acting head of mission Karen Malayan until 1 September to make the cuts, on grounds of Russia’s “abuse of diplomatic power” and the need for closer parity with Kallas’ mission in Moscow.

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