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Theresa May to warn EU leaders of Russian threat to democracy Theresa May to warn EU leaders of Russian threat to democracy
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May will tell a summit of EU leaders in Brussels that they must remain united against a threat from Russia to all European democracies.Theresa May will tell a summit of EU leaders in Brussels that they must remain united against a threat from Russia to all European democracies.
The prime minister will say the nerve agent attack in Salisbury shows Moscow has no respect for international law.The prime minister will say the nerve agent attack in Salisbury shows Moscow has no respect for international law.
A senior Whitehall official said Russia had "shown itself to be a strategic enemy not a strategic partner".A senior Whitehall official said Russia had "shown itself to be a strategic enemy not a strategic partner".
European leaders are also due to decide whether or not to agree the terms for a 21-month Brexit transition period.European leaders are also due to decide whether or not to agree the terms for a 21-month Brexit transition period.
Mrs May, who will not be present when the other EU leaders discuss Brexit on Friday, will brief her counterparts on Thursday on the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.Mrs May, who will not be present when the other EU leaders discuss Brexit on Friday, will brief her counterparts on Thursday on the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.
The European Council is expected to adopt conclusions strongly condemning the attack, which the UK government has said the Russian state was culpable for - but which Russia denies.The European Council is expected to adopt conclusions strongly condemning the attack, which the UK government has said the Russian state was culpable for - but which Russia denies.
The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said the meeting was the "first test of European support after 12 months of often bad tempered Brexit negotiations".The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said the meeting was the "first test of European support after 12 months of often bad tempered Brexit negotiations".
She said that the "very strong support being voiced for the UK" will be reflected at the meeting, but EU countries were not united in "being willing to point their finger at Russia" or taking further steps, such as expelling diplomats.She said that the "very strong support being voiced for the UK" will be reflected at the meeting, but EU countries were not united in "being willing to point their finger at Russia" or taking further steps, such as expelling diplomats.
Mrs May will tell EU heads of state that although the attempted assassination of the Skripals took place on UK soil, the Russian threat does not respect borders and it places all European nations at risk.Mrs May will tell EU heads of state that although the attempted assassination of the Skripals took place on UK soil, the Russian threat does not respect borders and it places all European nations at risk.
Russia's flagrant breach of international law represents a threat to the basis of democracy across Europe, she will add.Russia's flagrant breach of international law represents a threat to the basis of democracy across Europe, she will add.
But Mrs May will welcome the solidarity shown by allies across the world who have backed the UK's assessment that Russia is to blame for the attempted murders.
"As a European democracy, the UK will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and with Nato to face these threats together. United, we will succeed.""As a European democracy, the UK will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and with Nato to face these threats together. United, we will succeed."
Meanwhile, the Whitehall official stressed that the UK's response to the Salisbury attack had been carefully calibrated to remain within the law, and that the UK is "not looking for some big confrontation with Russia or regime change". Meanwhile, the Whitehall official stressed that the UK's response to the Salisbury attack had been carefully calibrated to remain within the law, and that the UK was "not looking for some big confrontation with Russia or regime change".
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the UK's Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said it was "very important to stand up" to Russia over the attack, but the UK must "continue to engage" with the country.Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the UK's Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said it was "very important to stand up" to Russia over the attack, but the UK must "continue to engage" with the country.
He added: "We continue to engage with Russia because we seek a position where Russia does abide by internal rules and norms [and] where Russia is a grown-up player on the world stage abiding by the international approaches, for instance not using chemical weapons."He added: "We continue to engage with Russia because we seek a position where Russia does abide by internal rules and norms [and] where Russia is a grown-up player on the world stage abiding by the international approaches, for instance not using chemical weapons."
May's Russia mission faces Brexit testMay's Russia mission faces Brexit test
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editorBy Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
At home, Theresa May has taken a firm rhetorical tone, in response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.At home, Theresa May has taken a firm rhetorical tone, in response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.
What the government hopes for in the next 24 hours though is that the other EU nations are willing to come alongside in the same way.What the government hopes for in the next 24 hours though is that the other EU nations are willing to come alongside in the same way.
The US, UK, France and Germany signed up to a very strong and uncompromising statement last week.The US, UK, France and Germany signed up to a very strong and uncompromising statement last week.
But the prime minister will use blunt language on Thursday night to try to create a similarly strong and united front among the other 27 EU member states.But the prime minister will use blunt language on Thursday night to try to create a similarly strong and united front among the other 27 EU member states.
Read more from Laura's blog here.Read more from Laura's blog here.
Earlier, Mr Hancock told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the "best response" to the Salisbury attack "would be for England to go to the World Cup, in Russia, and win it".Earlier, Mr Hancock told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the "best response" to the Salisbury attack "would be for England to go to the World Cup, in Russia, and win it".
It follows comments by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Wednesday that likened the way President Putin is promoting the World Cup in Russia to Hitler's notorious use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.It follows comments by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Wednesday that likened the way President Putin is promoting the World Cup in Russia to Hitler's notorious use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
When asked about his comments later on BBC Radio 4's Today, Mr Hancock said: "I was asked what would be the best response in terms of the World Cup and of course that is a tiny part of the overall response in terms of the country as a whole. Russia's Consul General in Scotland, Andrey Pritsepov, has called for Mr Johnson to go, telling the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that the comments "crossed all imaginary and unimaginary lines" of diplomacy.
"We want the team to go, we don't want to send dignitaries alongside that, but there is of course a much broader response [to the attack]."
The Brexit transition talks
The EU's Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he had recommended a draft legal text on transition, citizens' rights and other withdrawal issues to its members.
It followed Spanish concerns over how the accord would affect its demands for a say on how Brexit affects Gibraltar.
The transition is set to start on exit day, on 29 March 2019. It is due to continue until the end of 2020.
Mrs May has said what she calls the "implementation period", in which the UK will have to adhere to EU rules, will be a bridge to a new economic and political partnership with the EU.
Under the terms of the agreement, the UK will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify its own trade deals while EU citizens arriving in the UK will enjoy the same rights and guarantees as those who arrive before Brexit.
To the dismay of many Tory MPs, the UK will effectively remain in the Common Fisheries Policy until the end of 2020.
And a solution to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland has yet to be agreed, with the EU insisting on a "backstop" option of Northern Ireland remaining in the customs union and single market.
In a message on Twitter, Mr Tusk said he had urged the other 27 EU leaders to welcome, in principle, the agreement on transition and other matters at a session expected to take place on Friday.
"In practice, the transition phase will allow to delay [sic] all the negative consequences of Brexit by another 21 months," he wrote.
He told reporters he was "absolutely sure" the two sides would find a lasting solution to prevent the return of physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Gibraltar among issues still to be resolved
However, a written declaration issued by the European Council on the eve of the summit noted that agreement had not been reached in some areas, including both Northern Ireland and Gibraltar.
"Negotiations can only progress as long as all commitments undertaken so far are respected in full," it said.
The document also called for "intensified efforts on the remaining withdrawal issues, as well as issues related to the territorial application of the Withdrawal Agreement, notably as regards Gibraltar, and reiterates that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed".
There have been complications over the British overseas territory, which will leave the EU on the same day as the UK, in the run-up to Thursday's meeting.
At the UK's request, Gibraltar was specifically mentioned in the transition text but Spain, which maintains a long-standing sovereignty claim, subsequently sought reassurances that its interests would be protected.
Also on Friday, the EU is set to adopt guidelines for its negotiations over its future relationship with the UK.
Other issues on the EU's agenda include the implications of US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and the future enlargement of the EU into the Western Balkans.