The United States has expelled 12 Russian diplomats from the UN mission for spying

 File - The Russian flag flies outside the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Manhattan, New York. August 2, 2021.

The United States said Monday it was expelling 12 Russian diplomats working for the Moscow mission at the UN headquarters in New York on suspicion of spying.

"The United States has informed Russia and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations that we are in the process of expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian mission who have been involved in espionage and have abused their privileges in the United States, posing a threat to our national security," the statement said. Olivia Dalton said in a statement. "We are taking this step in accordance with the agreement reached at the UN headquarters. The move has been under way for several months. "

Russia's ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia told reporters that the United States had given them until March 6 to leave the country. He said it was a "hostile move" by the US government and a violation of Washington's obligations as a host nation to the United Nations.

Nebenzia also called the order "sad news" and said that the United States, as the host country, was "grossly disrespectful" to its commitments, both under the UN Charter and the Host Agreement, and under the Vienna Convention. The Vienna Convention also applies to the treatment of diplomats.

Nebenzia received the news over the phone during a press conference on the Ukraine conflict. He said the United States had written to the New York mission in Moscow about the decision.

This is not the first time the United States has declared Russian diplomats at the UN unwelcome. Most recently, in 2016, the Trump administration expelled a dozen Russian diplomats from a UN mission in Britain over similar allegations over the poisoning of a former Russian spy.

Nebenzia briefed members at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the growing humanitarian crisis.

"We are being told about diplomacy, the need for a diplomatic solution. At the same time, we are being limited in our ability to conduct such activities, "he said. "We are deeply disappointed with this decision and will keep an eye on what happens next in the context of this decision."

In response, US Ambassador Richard Mills said the decision was made in accordance with the agreement reached at the UN headquarters.