NATO's Baltic States, Russia Remove Ambassadors As Diplomatic Relations Downgraded.

Estonia responded by telling the Russian envoy to leave the Russian Embassy in Tallinn by February 7.

NATO and EU members Estonia and Latvia have told their Russian ambassadors to leave after Moscow said it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Estonia, accusing it of "total Russophobia." Estonia, Latvia, and Baltic neighbor Lithuania have been among a group of NATO allies arguing strongly for Germany to provide its Leopard battle tanks to boost Ukraine in fighting off Russia's invasion. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it had told the Estonian envoy he must leave next month, and both countries would be represented in each other's capitals by an interim charge d'affaires instead of an ambassador. Estonia responded in kind, telling the Russian envoy to leave by February 7, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said. To read the original story by Reuters, click here .