The U.S. Embassy in Moscow will halt issuing all non-immigrant visas in Russia following Moscow's order that it cut diplomatic staff, the U.S. Mission to Russia announced on Monday. Last month, Russia demanded that the U.S. Mission cut its 1,200 staff members down to 455 by September 1, as supposed retaliation for President Obama's decision last December to expel Russian diplomats. Still, Moscow’s decision came just after the House and Senate approved new anti-Russia sanctions.
