The United States can decide which diplomatic staff in Russia it wants to cut, the Kremlin said Monday, according to Reuters.

The comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered 755 U.S. diplomatic mission staff to leave the country.

The diplomats must leave the country by Sept. 1, The New York Times reported.

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The expulsions came in response to legislation overwhelmingly passed by Congress last week that would increase sanctions against Russia and limit President Trump's ability to lift penalties.

The White House announced Friday that Trump would sign new Russia sanctions, even though the administration had lobbied Congress to water down the bill.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said Monday that "there was no point in waiting" to announce the expulsions until after Trump signed the new sanctions into law.