Photo: Outside the Russian Embassy in Washington. \Reuters

[Ta Kung Pao News]According to RIA Novosti: Russian Ambassador to the United States Antonov said on the 22nd that the United States has informed Russia that it will close Russian visa centers in Washington and New York. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova responded that if the US measures are implemented, Russia will make an appropriate response.

Antonov announced the news to the media after an event held at the Russian Embassy in the United States to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Soviet Patriotic War. He said that the US move has created an additional burden for Russian diplomats in the United States, and the Russian embassy and consulates in the United States will continue to provide consular services.

Antonov pointed out that the US also deprived Russian diplomats of tax exemption in the US. However, Russian diplomats in the US will not pay taxes to the US government. The US did not provide any explanation for the above series of decisions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, during his visit to North Korea on the 19th. The treaty stipulates that when any party is invaded, the other party will provide assistance to it. Putin said that Russia does not rule out the possibility of providing weapons to North Korea.

US State Department spokesman Miller warned that Russia’s move would undermine the stability of the Korean Peninsula. Regarding South Korea’s reconsideration of supplying weapons to Ukraine, Miller said that the US welcomes “any support to help Ukraine fight against Russian aggression.”