Several EU countries are considering the possibility of expulsion of Russian diplomats

The leaders of the EU countries officially agreed with the British government that Russia is very likely to be responsible for an attack in Salisbury using a nerve agent.

Фото: Depositphotos

According to Air forceFollowing talks in Brussels late into the night, the European Council released a statement saying leaders agreed that there was “no other plausible explanation” for the Salisbury incident.

“We unequivocally support the United Kingdom in the face of this daring challenge to our collective security,” the leaders said in a joint statement released.

The EU Permanent Representative to Russia is recalled from Moscow “for consultations.”

Earlier in the meeting, British Prime Minister Theresa May said that нападение on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia on March 4 became “an example of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Europe.”

Moscow categorically denies any involvement in this incident.

According to Lora Kunssberg, an Air Force correspondent, Teresa May succeeded in making the final text of the resolution on the incident in Salisbury much harder than the early rhetoric of several leaders of EU member states.

“We are determined to respond together,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the meeting, “not only with the harsh language used [in this document] but also possibly through other additional measures.”

As reported by France-Press agency referring to one of the meeting participants, several EU countries are considering the possibility of expelling Russian diplomats or recalling their ambassador from Moscow.

Later, the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite spoke publicly about this possibility.

At the same time, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that although his country wants to show solidarity with Britain, “we must approach this issue very responsibly.”

A blow to the basics of democracy

Speaking to European leaders, Theresa May said that Russia, which Britain считает guilty of poisoning, does not respect national borders, and Moscow’s violation of international law is a blow to the very foundations of European democracy.

“As a European democracy, Britain will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and NATO to fight this threat together. Together we will succeed,” May said in a statement.

“The threat that Russia poses does not know state borders, and it is a threat to our values,” the prime minister is confident.

Attempting to convince European partners to condemn Russia was a key test for Theresa May.

Photo: twitter.com/theresa_may

So far, a number of EU countries have only made tough statements in which they condemned Moscow. Others refused to unambiguously associate Skrypal's poisoning with the Kremlin.

The US, France and Germany support Britain's position and say they agree with London's view that Russia is the only possible culprit for the Salisbury attack. However, some other EU countries - such as Italy and Greece - would like to maintain their ties with Moscow and are taking a less hardline position.

The Russian ambassador in London, Alexander Yakovenko, claims that Britain is accusing Russia of poisoning Skripal “without any evidence” and that this, he says, is completely unacceptable.

Recall, the former GRU officer Sergey Skripal and his daughter Julia were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury March 4. They were taken to the hospital in critical condition, they are still in a coma, doctors estimate their condition as consistently severe. The police found that they were poisoned nerve agent. About 20 people were poisoned, including the policeman who first visited the scene and the house of Skripal. On the fact of poisoning a case of attempted murder.

In Russia, Skripal was convicted in 2006 for spying for British intelligence. In 2010, he was exchanged for Russian intelligence agents uncovered in the United States.

After investigating, Britain came to the conclusion that the nerve agent of the new generation of the group called “Rookie” was used for poisoning. Since no country other than Russia had access to this substance, London declared that Russia was most likely responsible for the attempt. Prime Minister Teresa May ultimately demanded an explanation from Moscow.

The authorities rejected the suspicion of involvement in the crime and refused to respond to the ultimatum, demanding to provide official information about the case.

In response to this Britain announces expulsion of Russian diplomats from 23which, according to London, are working for Russian intelligence.

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