The media learned about the refusal of the US ambassador to leave Russia on the advice of the Kremlin

US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan refuses to leave the country, despite the Kremlin's recommendation to go to Washington for consultations. The Axios portal writes about this, citing sources familiar with the situation.

“Sullivan believes that if [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants him to leave, he will have to force him,” the publication says.

The State Department declined to comment on this information to the portal.

A new round of aggravation of relations between Moscow and Washington took place on April 15, when US President Joe Biden imposed new sanctions on Russia. They included more than 30 individuals and companies that are accused of trying to interfere in the last presidential election and other hostile actions. In addition, eight individuals and entities were included in the sanctions list in connection with Crimea. According to Washington, they are involved in the “occupation of the peninsula” and human rights violations in Crimea, including in the Simferopol pre-trial detention center.