The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has declared Russia’s consul in the city of Odessa persona non grata in response to Moscow’s expulsion of a Ukrainian diplomat on April 26, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
An employee of Russia’s Consulate General in Odesa has been declared an undesirable person to stay in Ukraine, he must leave the country before April 30.
"In response, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry declares Russia’s consul general in Odessa persona non grata. He must leave Ukraine until the end of day on April 30, 2021," the statement reads.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also strongly protested against Russia's decision to expel a Ukrainian diplomat from the embassy in Moscow, rejecting "accusations that the Ukrainian diplomat was involved in activities incompatible with his diplomatic status."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that it considers Russia's step as continuation of the anti-Ukrainian campaign launched by Putin and manifestation of such unfriendly actions against employees of diplomatic institutions of Ukraine.
The agency ruled out allegations that the Ukrainian diplomat which was declared "persona non grata" allegedly engaged in activities incompatible with his diplomatic status. The employee of the Embassy of Ukraine in Moscow did not perform any actions that would go beyond his diplomatic and consular functions.
"The decision of the Russian Foreign Ministry grossly violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 and permanent diplomatic practice. In case of continuation of provocations by the Russian side against employees of diplomatic institutions of Ukraine in Russia, we reserve the right to further action in response," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded.