Russia, West May Face More Conflict

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

(07-21) 15:24 PDT MOSCOW, Russia (AP) --

The diplomatic struggle over Russia's refusal to extradite the man suspected in the poisoning death of a former KGB agent in London could hamper progress on an array of issues critical to the West.

After Britain ordered on Monday the expulsion of four Russian diplomats to pressure Moscow, Russia retaliated in kind against four British diplomats, suspended counter-terrorism cooperation with Britain, and probed the limits of British airspace with strategic bombers.

These moves, chillingly reminiscent of the Cold War, may only be a taste of what is to come.

"I hope we can still contain this crisis," Dmitry Trenin of the Moscow Carnegie Center told The Associated Press on Saturday.

As a veto-wielding U.N. Security Council member, Russia is a critical player in many issues of international importance.

In the past week, Moscow managed to prevent a Security Council vote on the future status of Kosovo because it opposes a Western push for the Serbian province's independence.


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