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Russia on Friday Asked 10 American diplomats to leave the country in retaliation for Washington's expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats for alleged misconduct and suggested that the US embassy return home to negotiate.
The measures, which are part of a broader package of retaliation, were adopted by President Vladimir Putin, in response to a number of US government structures that were imposed in Moscow the previous day, including restrictions on its debt market.
Although Moscow responded quickly and with measures designed to hurt U.S. interests and reduce its political tensions, it left the door open for negotiations and did not kill the idea, proposed by President Joe Biden, of Putin-Biden's conference.
"Now is the time for the United States to show resilience and to abandon its approach," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Otherwise there will be a lot of painful decisions on the American side."
It says it has options to harm the United States economically and reduce its carcasses in Russia to just 300 people, but it is on fire at the moment.
Russia-U.S. Bonds dropped to a new post-Cold War last month after Biden said he thought Putin was a "murderer" and Moscow had returned its ambassador to Washington in consultation. The messenger has not returned about a month later.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has said John Sullivan, the US ambassador to Russia, should return home to negotiate with them.
Washington said its sanctions paid off if Russia intervened in last year's elections in the U.S., cyber hacking, Ukraine's exploitation and other allegations of defamation.
Russia denies all allegations against U.S.
Russia's response on Friday was "rising and falling," a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
"It is not our intention to enter into an escalating cycle, but we have a right to respond to any Russian retaliation against the United States."
RENEWAL
The Moscow response was very important.
Ten American strategists have been fired and eight current and former US officials have been barred from entering Russia for their role in the so-called "Washington anti-Russian course".
Those banned include FBI Director Christopher Wray, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Home Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Among those who will face restrictions on entry are Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal, Director of Home Affairs Council Susan Rice, John Bolton, former U.S. National Security Adviser And the head of the CIA Robert James Woolsey.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has said it will also end Russia's work with U.S. funds. As well as non-governmental organizations that are believed to be interfering in the country's affairs, Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, has spoken out about possible "painful" measures against American business in Russia.
Some methods are designed to make it difficult for the American ambassador to operate on his own.
Biden, after imposing sanctions on Moscow, had called for a reduction in the conflict and said it was important for the White House and the Kremlin to keep the lines of communication open.
He also suggested that he and Putin meet at a conference.
"(Putin) has repeatedly said that we are ready to negotiate as our colleagues have been prepared to do so. In this case, it may be good that the views of the two heads of state go hand in hand," Putm's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters ahead of the Russian counter.
"Their views are not consistent with regard to building meaningful and considerate relationships," Peskov said.
The Foreign Ministry said the proposal for Putin's Biden conference was initially well received, but is now being studied by events.
"We want to avoid further growth with the United States. We are ready to have calm and technical negotiations," the department said.
"But the fact is that we hear the same thing in Washington and in practice we see something completely different. There should be no doubt - not a single 'sanction' will always go unpunished."
The Kremlin says Putin has yet to decide whether to participate in the US-led climate summit next week.
It also said it would be difficult to quickly organize Putin-Biden's conference.
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