The United States and more than a dozen European nations have kicked out Russian diplomats, with the Trump administration also ordering Russia's consulate in Seattle to close, as the West sought joint punishment for Moscow's alleged role in the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain.

Key points: The White House says the expulsion will "make the United States safer"

The White House says the expulsion will "make the United States safer" The expelled Russians will have seven days to leave the US

The expelled Russians will have seven days to leave the US 14 EU member nations are also expelling Russian diplomatic staff

Warning of an "unacceptably high" number of Russian spies in the US, the Trump administration said 60 diplomats would be expelled — all Russian intelligence agents working under diplomatic cover, the US said.

The group includes a dozen posted to Russia's mission to the United Nations who the officials said were engaged in "aggressive collection" of intelligence on American soil.

It was the toughest action that US President Donald Trump has taken against Russia, and followed what one of the official called a "reckless attempt" by the Russian Government on March 4 to attack former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a military-grade nerve agent.

The pair were found slumped on a bench in the southern English city of Salisbury and remain critically ill in hospital.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, welcoming the show of solidarity, said 18 countries had announced plans to expel Russian officials.

In total, Monday's announcements affected more than 100 Russian diplomats — the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it would respond to the actions taken by the US and other Western nations, and accused their governments of blindly following their British ally into confrontation with Moscow.

Moscow has denied responsibility for the attack, and the Kremlin said ahead of the US announcement that it would respond in kind.

"To the Russian Government we say: when you attack our friends, you will face serious consequences," a senior US administration official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal remain in a critical condition. ( AP: Misha Japaridze, Facebook: Yulia Skripal )

'Largest collective expulsion' ever

The American penalties were echoed by announcements in European capitals across the continent, including those in Russia's backyard.

Who is taking action? The United States will expel 60 diplomats and close a Russian consulate in Seattle

will expel 60 diplomats and close a Russian consulate in Seattle Australia has directed two "undeclared intelligence officers" to leave within seven days

has directed two "undeclared intelligence officers" to leave within seven days Britain had earlier booted out 23 Russian diplomats

had earlier booted out 23 Russian diplomats Canada said it was kicking out four diplomats and denying applications to three

said it was kicking out four diplomats and denying applications to three Ukraine , a non-EU country with its own conflicts with Moscow, will expel 13 diplomats

, a non-EU country with its own conflicts with Moscow, will expel 13 diplomats Germany , Poland and France each plan to boot four diplomats

, and each plan to boot four diplomats Lithuania and the Czech Republic will expel three

and the will expel three Italy , the Netherlands , Denmark and Albania will expel two each

, , and will expel two each Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Finland, Latvia and Estonia will expel one each

Britain has accused Moscow of perpetrating the attack and has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats, accusing them of being undeclared intelligence agents. In return, Russia expelled the same number of British diplomats.

Almost all of the countries involved also said publicly that the Russian diplomats they were expelling were actually spies.

The attack was the first known offensive use of a nerve toxin in Europe since World War II, and Mr Trump's move came as European Union chief Donald Tusk announced 14 member nations were also expelling Russian diplomatic staff over the incident.

In a tweet welcoming the actions taken by the US and EU nations, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said they amounted to "the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever".

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Mr Trump's order includes 12 Russian intelligence officers from Russia's mission to the United Nations headquarters in New York and reflects concerns that Russian intelligence activities have been increasingly aggressive, senior US administration officials said.

The expelled Russians will have seven days to leave the US, the officials said. They added the Seattle consulate was a counter-intelligence concern because of its proximity to a US Navy base.

Sorry, this video has expired Russia, White House react to diplomat expulsion

The White House said the expulsion of Russian diplomats and closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle would "make the United States safer".

Less than a week ago, Mr Trump congratulated Mr Putin by phone for his re-election but did not raise the spy case, renewing questions about whether the US President was too soft on the Kremlin.

Russia promises 'symmetrical' response

European Council President Donald Tusk said further measures could be taken in the coming weeks and months.

Russia said it would respond in kind.

"The response will be symmetrical. We will work on it in the coming days and will respond to every country in turn," the RIA news agency cited an unnamed Foreign Ministry source as saying.

The Russian embassy in the United States asked Twitter followers to vote what US consulates they would close in Russia, if they could decide.

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Besides the embassy in Moscow, the United States has three consulate generals in Russia.

The Kremlin has accused Britain of whipping up an anti-Russia campaign and has sought to cast doubt on the British analysis that Moscow was responsible.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested in a post on Facebook that the EU's expression of support for Britain was misguided given it would be leaving the bloc next year.

A British court said Mr Skripal and his daughter may have suffered brain damage, while a policeman who went to help them has also indicated he has suffered lasting damage to his health.

British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson hailed the support for Britain during a visit on Monday to Estonia.

Britain has troops there as part of a NATO mission to deter any Russian aggression following its seizure of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014.



AP/Reuters