US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided to close the US Consulate General in Vladivostok and suspend the work of the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg. According to the Associated Press (AP), the closure of the consulates general is due to Russia's decision in 2017 to reduce the number of American diplomats.

      The decision was made to optimize the work of the diplomatic mission. He clarified that no actions related to Russian consulates general in the United States are planned. The closure was a response to staffing problems and a "diplomatic visa stalemate." According to AP, diplomats will be transferred to the US Embassy in Moscow, and Russian colleagues will be fired. The State Department plans to save $ 3.2 million a year.