In Retaliation, Russia Seizes Two U.S. Diplomatic Properties

The Russian government seized two U.S.-owned diplomatic properties Friday, hours after its foreign ministry ordered the U.S. to cut its diplomatic staff in the country by Sept. 1. The New York Times reports the Kremlin will cut off American access on Aug. 1 to a Moscow warehouse and a leafy enclave where U.S. staffers often walk their dogs. The actions came one day after a U.S. Senate vote to slap new sanctions on Moscow for its meddling in the 2016 presidential election and aggression in Crimea and Ukraine. The ministry has also threatened that if Washington kicks out any additional Russian diplomats, Russia will retaliate further. The escalating tensions may soon force President Trump to take a hard line on Moscow—or veto the legislation and anger his own party and country.