Could be..... but what is clanging around in the brain is early Trump days when this happened.
Am unable to do a bunny dive right now, but I’ll put it on the list, because now I do want to recall the details.
RE Russian diplomats being returned to Russia:
The Obama CYA send back:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/29/barack-obama-sanctions-russia-election-hack
Trump last March sent some back:
https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-expels-60-russian-diplomats-from-the-us-in-response-to-uk-nerveagent-attack/news-story/467b10c46abd6155ca37bbacad52fd47
Russian perspective to the March return:
https://sputniknews.com/us/201803271062929937-usa-russia-diplomats-ties-expulsion/