Russia to postpone ban on U.S. embassy hiring foreign staff, says U.S

[May 14, 2021]    MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian government intends to postpone the enforcement of a ban on the U.S. embassy hiring foreign staff, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow said on Friday, adding that it would temporarily resume routine services for U.S. citizens.

Russian and U.S. state flags fly near a factory in Vsevolozhsk, Leningrad Region, Russia March 27, 2019. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov

The embassy had said last month it was cutting consular staff by 75% and that from May 12 it would stop processing non-immigrant visas for non-diplomatic travel, after the Kremlin accused Washington of fuelling tension with "unfriendly actions".

(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

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