OREANDA-NEWS. The US Consulate in Vladivostok will be closed, in Yekaterinburg it will suspend work, a representative of the State Department told RIA Novosti. This decision was made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“The Secretary of State (Mike Pompeo. - Ed.), In close consultation with Ambassador (to Russia. - Ed.) John Sullivan, decided to close the US Consulate General in Vladivostok and suspend the work of the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg. This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensuring the safe operations of the US diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation, "- said the representative of the diplomatic service.

The State Department explained that this measure was caused by the need to optimize the work of the American diplomatic mission. This decision will allow reallocating employees.

According to AP, the closure is due to restrictions imposed by the Russian authorities in 2017 on the number of American diplomats allowed to work in Russia.

The US Congress was notified by the administration of President Donald Trump of the intention to close the consulates. If both consulates cease their work, then the only US diplomatic center in Russia will remain the embassy in Moscow.

At the same time, the representative of the State Department assured that no measures are planned with respect to the Russian consulates in the United States.