Belgium expelled 21 Russian diplomats "for their involvement in espionage and activities threatening the country's security," Reuters reported citing the foreign ministry.

These are employees of the Russian embassy in Brussels and the consulate in Antwerp. According to a ministry spokesman, they were all accredited as diplomats but "engaged in espionage or unlawful influence peddling."

The Dutch Foreign Ministry also expelled 17 Russian diplomats on Tuesday, calling them "agents of Russian intelligence."