Germany to downsize embassy staff in Russia, hundreds to leave.

Germany will remove at least 100 employees from its missions in Russia after Moscow imposed limits on the numbers allowed to work in the country. The affected employees include teachers and other staff of schools and the Goethe Institute. The move is necessary to maintain the right balance for Germany's diplomatic presence. The limit, announced in April, is described as "unilateral, unjustified and incomprehensible" by a source with the German foreign ministry. Relations between Russia and Germany have broken down since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the West responded with sanctions and weapons supplies.