MOSCOW—Numerous rounds of diplomatic expulsions have left Russia and the West with little capacity for more such largely symbolic measures, setting the stage for less predictable forms of escalation as the rift between the two sides grows, Russian government advisers and analysts say.
“There is still room for more battles in this diplomatic war, but it won’t remain a diplomatic war for much longer,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, who heads a Kremlin advisory body on foreign and defense policy.
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