Russia is expelling more than 20 German diplomats, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RIA Novosti news agency on Saturday, in a tit-for-tat move.

“The German authorities took a decision on another mass expulsion of employees of Russian diplomatic missions in Germany. We strongly condemn these actions of Berlin, which continues to defiantly destroy the entire array of Russian-German relations,” the ministry said.

Relations between Moscow and Berlin, which used to be the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas, have frayed since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022 and the West responded with sanctions.

[Quid pro quo games being played. ~ Beege]