United Kingdom using nerve agent row to distract from Brexit: Moscow

The leaders of France, Germany, the U.S. and the United Kingdom have condemned Russia for its part in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and called on it to declare its chemical weapons programme.

Britain and its allies on Thursday blamed Moscow directly for a poison attack on a double agent in England, escalating diplomatic tensions as Washington separately announced sanctions against Russian Federation for allegedly meddling in its elections.

More: Ex-double agent poisoned. Mr. Putin, an authoritarian leader who is expected to be re-elected easily to another six-year term on Sunday, has paid little or no price for his aggressions, including annexing Crimea, destabilizing other parts of Ukraine and enabling President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

“We’re going to continue those actions to increase pressure on Russian Federation until they change their behaviour, and become responsible members of the worldwide community”.

Russian Federation has pledged to respond in kind and has been threatened to expel British diplomats from Moscow.

Mr Corbyn said Labour did not support Mr Putin and that Russian Federation should be held to account if it was behind the attack.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the support of Germany, France and the US, which support her decision to expel the Russian diplomats. “Instead, they have treated the use of a military-grade nerve agent in Europe with sarcasm, contempt and defiance”.

Ms. Skripal flew to London from Russian Federation on March 3rd, according to counter-terrorism police.

An investigation found they were exposed to a lethal Novichok nerve agent – a material that is viewed as the exclusive property of Russian Federation.

Mrs May said the nerve agent used to poison Mr Skripal was developed in Russian Federation and she considers Russian Federation as highly likely to be behind the attack. Instead, he suggested that the country was framed by “those who want to continue a campaign of Russophobia”. Mirzayanov said he revealed the existence of Novichok because he thought it was necessary to deprive Russian Federation of its “deadly secret”. Peskov reiterated Russian denials of involvement in the attack that has left both Skripals in critical condition.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia will kick out British diplomats in a worsening standoff over a nerve agent attack, but still isn’t saying when or how many.

“The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyber activity, including their attempted interference in USA elections, destructive cyber-attacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure”, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement on Thursday.

Britain is expelling 23 Russian diplomats and taking other steps against Russian interests as the two nations’ relations sink to a post-Cold War low. Alexander Yakovenko said on Russia-24 television it will have a “serious impact” on the embassys work.

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson sparked particular outrage in Moscow with his blunt comment on Thursday that “Russia should go away, it should shut up”. “Maybe he lacks education, I don’t know”.

Jeremy Corbyn has defied critics in his own party and warned the prime minister against “rushing way ahead of the evidence” over the Salisbury poisoning, in what he called the “fevered” atmosphere of Westminster.