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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 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 Russian Ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, said Britain had blamed Russia for the poisoning "without any evidence" and his country "cannot accept that".
He also described as "totally irresponsible" the comments by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Wednesday that likened the public relations gains to President Putin from this summer's Football World Cup in Russia to Adolf Hitler's use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
"Nobody has the right to insult the Russian people, who defeated Nazism and lost more than 25 million people, by comparing our country to Nazi Germany," said Mr Yakovenko.
"It goes beyond common sense and we do not think British war veterans, including those of the Arctic convoys, would share this opinion."
The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said the EU summit 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.
"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 was "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. The comments came as Russia's Consul General in Scotland, Andrey Pritsepov, 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.
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.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn repeated his calls for a "robust and serious dialogue" with Russia, and hoped for a statement of support for the UK from the EU after the summit.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn repeated his calls for a "robust and serious dialogue" with Russia, and hoped for a statement of support for the UK from the EU after the summit.
"We live in one continent " he said. "We have to have a process where difficulties can be dealt with.""We live in one continent " he said. "We have to have a process where difficulties can be dealt with."
But Mr Corbyn questioned statements by some members of government, adding: "I'm not sure the language used by some of our ministers is particularly helpful or sensible."But Mr Corbyn questioned statements by some members of government, adding: "I'm not sure the language used by some of our ministers is particularly helpful or sensible."