Russian diplomat expulsion: European governments tell dozens of embassy staff to leave

More than a dozen Western nations have announced they are to expel Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain over the poisoning of a former Russian spy.

The group of European states were joined by the US and Canada in ordering the removal of Russian embassy and intelligence staff.

Russia has vowed to respond with expulsions of its own, including at least 60 staff from US diplomatic missions in Russia, RIA news agency quoted Russian senator Vladimir Dzhabarov as saying.

An unnamed Foreign Ministry source was quoted as saying: "The response will be symmetrical. We will work on it in the coming days and will respond to every country in turn."

Theresa May said Russia had "spectacularly failed" in efforts to divide Britain's allies following the nerve agent attack.

Tallinn is expelling one diplomat.

Warsaw will expel four Russian diplomats. Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told a news conference that the diplomats were to leave the country by April 3.

"Showing solidarity with Britain and other countries is the most important thing," Czaputowicz said. "There are diplomatic costs to that but they are worth it."

Three Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover will be expelled along with sanctions for 21 others. A further 23 will be banned from entering the country.

Latvia said it would expel one Russian diplomat.

Romania will expel one Russian diplomat. "In solidarity with Britain and in accordance with provisions of the Vienna Convention ... the foreign affairs ministry has notified the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bucharest that a diplomat will be declared persona non grata and is obliged to leave Romanian territory," the foreign ministry said.

The Netherlands will expel two Russian diplomats. The diplomats, who work as intelligence officers at the Russian embassy in The Hague, will have to leave the country within two weeks, the government said.

Denmark is expelling two diplomats.

Two Russian diplomats must leave Italy within a week.

Madrid has also expelled two diplomats.

The counrty's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would expel one Russian diplomat.

Germany has expelled four Russian diplomats. The foreign ministry said: "After the poisoning attack in Salisbury, Russia is still not cooperating with the investigation."

France will expel four Russian diplomats. "In solidarity with our British partners, we have today notified the Russian authorities of our decision to expel four Russian personnel with diplomatic status from French territory within one week," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said.

The Czech Republic said it is removing three staffers from the Russian embassy. Andrej Babis calls the measure an expression of solidarity with Britain.

Finland will expel one Russian diplomat.

Croatia's prime minister says he will expel one Russian diplomat.

One Russian diplomat will be kicked out of Sweden in response to the poisoning.

Kiev is expelling 13 Russian diplomats.

Two diplomats have been told to leave by Albania.

One diplomat was ordered out by the government in Budapest.

Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats and their families last week.

The White House says 60 Russian diplomats will be expelled as well as the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, which will "make the United States safer", it said.

Canada says it is expelling four Russian diplomats. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland says the nerve agent attack carried out on the soil of Canada's close ally is despicable and potentially endangered the lives of hundreds of people. Three applications by the Russian government for additional diplomatic staff will now be denied.