US Vice President Mike Pence has criticised Russia as an "unpredictable threat" wanting to divide Europe by force.

Pence made the comments in Estonia as he starts a four-day European tour.

It follows a deterioration in Washington-Moscow relations after President Vladimir Putin ordered hundreds of American diplomatic staff out of Russia on Sunday, in retaliation for new US sanctions against Moscow.

Al Jazeera's Rory Challands reports from Moscow.