In the Netherlands, the government announced on Tuesday, March 29, that it decided to expel 17 Russian diplomats.
According to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, the decision was taken due to the national security threat presented by diplomats who were covertly acting as intelligence officers.
Moreover, the Ministry stated that it is prepared for any situations that may arise due to Russia’s decision.
It further stated that the decision was taken after consultation with other nations, including the United States, Poland, the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro, who had made a similar decision.
Furthermore, in Belgium, a news agency reported that the government agreed to expel 21 Russian diplomats for allegedly spying and presenting security dangers.
In addition, the Irish Foreign Ministry notified local media that it had requested four Russian ambassadors to leave because their actions did not meet international diplomatic norms.
According to the Czech Foreign Ministry, an additional Russian diplomat was declared persona non grata and was ordered to depart within 72 hours.
The Ministry also took it to Twitter by saying, “We are working with our Allies, and we’re decreasing the Russian intelligence presence in the European Union.”
​​​​​​​The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which started on February 24, has met international outrage, with the European Union, United States, and the United Kingdom imposing harsh financial sanctions on Russia.
According to United Nations estimates, at least 1,151 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 1,842 injured, with the actual figure likely to be far higher.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, more than 3.87 million Ukrainians have also fled to neighboring countries, with millions more displaced inside the country.
