Russia expels second-highest ranking US diplomat in Moscow amid Ukraine tensions

• Russia expelled a high-ranking US diplomat from Moscow on Thursday.
• The move comes amid increasing tensions between the US and Russia over a possible larger invasion of Ukraine.

Russia expelled a top US diplomat from Moscow on Thursday as tensions between the two countries simmer over a possible broader invasion of Ukraine.

The State Department confirmed that Bart Gorman, the deputy chief of mission, was expelled. The department said Gorman's tour, where he holds the second-highest post beneath the ambassador, was not complete and he had a valid visa. It's not immediately clear why Gorman was expelled.

"Russia's action against our DCM was unprovoked and we consider this an escalatory step and are considering our response," a State Department spokesperson said in response to the news.

President Joe Biden told reporters that there is still a "very high" risk that Russia invades in the next few days, but like other top officials he expressed hope that diplomacy could prevail.

"My sense is this will happen in the next several days," Biden told reporters before departing for an event in Ohio.

The Biden administration expelled 10 Russian diplomats last April for what it said was the Kremlin's attempts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. Moscow later retaliated by kicking out 10 American diplomats, the latest back-and-forth between the two nations as relations have cratered since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, its backing of separatist fighters and the 2016 presidential election.

Gorman has worked for the State Department for decades, focusing mainly on diplomatic security and intelligence. He previously worked in Moscow from 2014 to 2016, according to his official bio.