washington unite state tell russia close consulate san francisco build washington new york house trade missions state department say thursday retaliation moscow cut u.s. diplomatic presence russia announcement late tit-for-tat measure two countries help drive relations new post-cold war low thwart hop side might improve u.s. president donald trump take office january last month moscow order unite state cut diplomatic technical staff russia half 455 people match number russian diplomats unite state congress overwhelmingly approve new sanction russia sanction impose response russian meddle 2016 presidential election punish russia 2014 annexation crimea ukraine believe action unwarranted detrimental overall relationship countries state department spokeswoman heather nauert say statement thursday add unite state complete reduction spirit parity invoke russians nauert say unite state require russian government close san francisco consulate two annex washington d.c. new york sept. 2. white house immediately respond request comment decision secretary state rex tillerson inform russian foreign minister sergei lavrov closure phone call thursday senior trump administration official say two men plan meet sideline u.n. general assembly september official say lavrov express regret washington decision phone call tillerson ministry say moscow closely study new measure announce americans reaction convey russian foreign ministry say statement late u.s. move cap eight months back-and-forth retaliatory measure two countries span two u.s. administrations december administration barack obama close two russian countryside vacation retreat maryland new york say compound use intelligence-related purpose closure part broad response include expulsion 35 suspect russian spy u.s. officials call cyber interference moscow 2016 elections kremlin deny allegations trump come office want improve relations russia desire hamstring election interference allegations new sanction pass congress conflict trump goals grudgingly sign law month unite state say last week would sharply scale back visa service russia move hit russian business travelers tourists students russian consulate san francisco handle work seven state western unite state three russian consulates separate embassy washington new york seattle houston consulate san francisco old establish russia consulates unite state senior trump administration official tell reporters official residence consulate also close russian diplomats expel diplomats assign san francisco re-assigned post unite state official say russians continue retain ownership close facilities sell allow carry diplomatic activities official say even closure russia still maintain diplomatic consular annex unite state russia official say choose allow russian government maintain annex effort arrest downward spiral relationship u.s. retaliate russia order closure consulate annex