New Zealand Says It Will Now Ban Russian Diplomats Expelled by Allies

After failing to locate any Russian intelligence agents of its own to expel in the wake of a nerve agent attack on an ex-spy in Britain that has been blamed on Moscow, New Zealand has vowed to prohibit entry to any Russian diplomats kicked out by other countries, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Thursday.

Western countries' relations with Moscow have soured after Britain blamed the Kremlin for the attempted assassination of former double agent Sergei Skripal.