Moscow (CNN) The UK will be expected to cut around 50 personnel from its diplomatic missions in Russia as relations between the two nations deteriorate further following the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in England. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told CNN on Saturday that the number was calculated to ensure the two nations achieve parity in how many staff members they have working at their diplomatic missions. Russia is now insisting that more leave so the staff will be the same size in the countries' respective embassies. Also Saturday, Russia's Ministry of Transport said it planned to ask the UK why authorities searched a Moscow-bound Aeroflot plane Friday at London's Heathrow Airport. On Friday, the Russian Embassy in London tweeted, "Good news as Yulia Skripal is reported as recovering well.

Source: CNN March 31, 2018 14:15 UTC