At least 50 Russian diplomats, together with their family members, over the weekend left the city of New York, United States of America, back to their country, Africa Today News, New York has learnt.
Recall that the Deputy Representative of the US to the United Nations, UN had given 12 Russian UN diplomats ultimatum to leave the US by March 7.
The Joe Biden administration had asked for the removal of the Russian diplomats, accusing them of allegedly engaging in ‘activities that were not in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats.’
US Ambassador to the UN, Richard Mills said this during a UN Security Council meeting last Monday.
Read Also: First Batch Of Nigerians From Ukraine Arrives Abuja
Then late Sunday, a Russian government plane carrying the diplomats left New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport en route Moscow.
‘This plane will return to their homeland [the] Russian diplomats, whom the US Government has declared persona non grata,’ said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova on her Telegram channel.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday disclosed that it will not tolerate the recruitment of Nigerians as foreign fighters in Ukraine.
According to a statement signed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, the government is in talks with Ukrainian counterparts to forestall such an occurrence.
The government’s statement comes after reports emerged of Nigerian volunteers being drafted into the Ukrainian army at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja.
Africa Today News, New York had last Friday reported that the first batch of Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine arrived the country.
This was made known in an update by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) on its Twitter handle which was sighted by Africa Today News, New York. Three other batches of these Nigerians have been relocated into the country so far.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK