Ukrainian Foreign Ministry promises 'due retaliation' to expulsion of Ukrainian diplomats from Minsk, Brest

KYIV. March 23 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukraine will not leave without due retaliation the staff reduction of the Ukrainian embassy in Minsk and the closure of the Ukrainian consulate in Brest, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said.

"We regard such actions by Belarus as a new unprovoked unfriendly step towards Ukraine. Ukraine will not leave Belarus's actions without due retaliation, which we will announce later," Nikolenko told reporters on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian embassy in Minsk will be functioning in a reduced format led by Ambassador Ihor Kyzym after some Ukrainian diplomats leave, he said.

"Our diplomats will have enough possibilities to continue providing consular assistance to Ukrainian citizens in Belarus," the spokesman said.

According to earlier reports, the Belarusian side announced a reduction of the staff of the Ukrainian embassy in Minsk and the closure of the consulate of Ukraine in Brest. Twelve Ukrainian diplomats were ordered to leave Belarus within 72 hours.