A senior US administration official said the call was “professional” and that Lavrov “agreed to the sentiment that it was important to find a way to improve our relations”. No Russians will be expelled in this latest move, and US officials said staff at the offices affected could be reassigned to other Russian diplomatic missions around the country. “The buildings that are owned by the Russians will continue to be owned by the Russians,” a senior administration official said. Putin delayed a response, apparently in the expectation that the Trump administration would reverse the decision. A senior administration official said that visa service would be resumed shortly, “but on a much reduced scale”.

Source: The Guardian August 31, 2017 16:38 UTC