Yulia

The first of a group of 60 US diplomats who have been expelled from Russia in the wake of the poisoned spy row departed from Washington's embassy in Moscow early Thursday, an AFP reporter on the scene said.

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov told media on Tuesday that the unnamed Russian diplomat was expelled in solidarity with Britain over the Sergei Skripal poisoning, but also for domestic security reasons.

Dimitrov said the decision "was made after careful deliberation and analysis" and was "based on two elements".

Russian embassies in Croatia, Romania and Macedonia have strongly criticised the three countries' decision to expel diplomats to show solidarity with Britain in the wake of the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania joined other EU countries in expelling some Russian diplomats on Monday.

More than 130 Russian diplomats have been ordered to leave capital cities across the globe, as the West unites behind Britain over the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

Some 60 Russians are to be expelled from the US, while suspected intelligence officers in Canada, Ukraine, Australia, Albania, Macedonia and a number of EU states will also be ejected.

Albania expelled two Russian diplomats on Monday, as the EU aspirant country joined the UK, the EU, the US and Canada in a coordinated response to the nerve agent poisoning of  Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence official, and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury England.

The European Union has recalled its ambassador from Moscow after leaders on the continent threw their weight behind Theresa May's stance over the Salisbury attack. Several EU member states were poised to announce expulsions of diplomats, in a bid to dismantle Vladimir Putin's spy network.

Russia's embassy in Tirana on Thursday criticised Albania's Foreign Ministry for issuing a statement directly blaming Russia for the chemical attack on a former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, in Salisbury, England, on March 4.

RT: As two Russian politicians discussed the future after the presidential election, their discussion quickly turned into a confrontation, with both sides accusing each other of lies, hypocrisy and betrayal of the liberal cause.

RUSSIA has refused to respond to Theresa May's ultimatum regarding the nerve agent attack on an ex-Russian spy the country's London embassy has confirmed, lurching the UK into a diplomatic crisis with Moscow.

Former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned by a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia, Theresa May has told MPs, according to BBC. 

The PM said it was "highly likely" Russia was responsible for the Salisbury attack.

The Foreign Office summoned Russia's ambassador to provide an explanation.