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Theresa May welcomes EU backing on Russia spy attack response Theresa May welcomes EU backing on Russia spy attack response
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has welcomed the decision by EU leaders to wholeheartedly back the UK’s condemnation of Russia over the Salisbury attack, after Brussels recalled its ambassador to Moscow. Theresa May has welcomed the decision by European Union leaders to wholeheartedly back the UK’s condemnation of Russia over the Salisbury attack, after Brussels recalled its ambassador to Moscow.
Speaking on her arrival at an EU summit in Brussels, the prime minister said she was pleased that the 27 other member states had unanimously agreed it was “highly likely Russia is responsible”. Speaking as she departed from an EU summit in Brussels, the prime minister said she was pleased that the 27 other member states had unanimously agreed it was “highly likely Russia is responsible”.
“It is right that we are standing together”, she said. “We have been sharing throughout, sharing on intelligence channels what we can with our colleagues. What is crucial is that there was recognition around the table about the threat that Russia poses. “They recognised and agreed with the UK Government’s assessment”.
A number of member states, including Ireland, are poised to follow the UK’s lead and expel Russian diplomats over the affair.A number of member states, including Ireland, are poised to follow the UK’s lead and expel Russian diplomats over the affair.
The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, on Friday accused the UK of trying to make “the crisis with Russia as deep as possible” as it sought the support of the EU.The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, on Friday accused the UK of trying to make “the crisis with Russia as deep as possible” as it sought the support of the EU.
In London they “are feverishly trying to force allies to take confrontational steps”, he told reporters on a visit to Hanoi, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported. In London they “are feverishly trying to force allies to take confrontational steps”, he told reporters on a visit to Hanoi, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
During a long dinner in Brussels, information was shared from both the UK security services and other member states’ intelligence services to shore up support for the UK. During a long dinner in Brussels on Thursday, information was shared from both the UK security services and other member states’ intelligence services to shore up support for the UK.
Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, who alongside Emmanuel Macron had proposed that the EU endorse the opinion of the British government on the guilt of Russia, said: “We will now consider in the coming days whether we want to take individual action in relation to Russian diplomats in Ireland. Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, said: “We will now consider in the coming days whether we want to take individual action in relation to Russian diplomats in Ireland.”
“Bearing in mind what the United Kingdom did was to expel 23 diplomats that they believed were not actual diplomats, were agents. So we would have to do an assessment just like they did before that ... We will make that decision, I would say, in the early part of next week.” The taoiseach, who alongside his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, had proposed that the EU endorse the opinion of the British government on the guilt of Russia, added: “Bearing in mind what the United Kingdom did was to expel 23 diplomats that they believed were not actual diplomats, were agents. So we would have to do an assessment just like they did before that ... We will make that decision, I would say, in the early part of next week.”
The EU recalled its ambassador from Moscow for consultations over an incident it called “a grave challenge to our shared security”. The EU recalled its ambassador from Moscow for consultations over the incident it described as “a grave challenge to our shared security”.
Britain and Russia have expelled 23 of each other’s diplomats since the use of a nerve agent on a former Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury, which has sparked an east-west diplomatic crisis reminiscent of the cold war.Britain and Russia have expelled 23 of each other’s diplomats since the use of a nerve agent on a former Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury, which has sparked an east-west diplomatic crisis reminiscent of the cold war.
The president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, said that “from the beginning of next week, a lot of countries, we will go for our national measures”.The president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, said that “from the beginning of next week, a lot of countries, we will go for our national measures”.
The Danish prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said his country would also consider whether it should take unilateral steps.The Danish prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said his country would also consider whether it should take unilateral steps.
Boyko Borisov, the prime minister of Bulgaria, said: “We find ourselves at times worse than the cold war. During the cold war there were rules. Now I am not optimistic for the peaceful future of the world.”Boyko Borisov, the prime minister of Bulgaria, said: “We find ourselves at times worse than the cold war. During the cold war there were rules. Now I am not optimistic for the peaceful future of the world.”
May had expected to leave Brussels on Thursday night, but stayed on at the summit to discuss Donald Trump’s decision to give the EU a temporary exemption from tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.May had expected to leave Brussels on Thursday night, but stayed on at the summit to discuss Donald Trump’s decision to give the EU a temporary exemption from tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
She said: “What I will be working with my fellow EU leaders today on is to see how we can secure a permanent exemption for the EU for those steel tariffs.She said: “What I will be working with my fellow EU leaders today on is to see how we can secure a permanent exemption for the EU for those steel tariffs.
“We’re talking about what the next steps might be. And I’ve stayed on to talk about those next steps because the steel industry is hugely important to the UK and to the British government. And I want to ensure that steelworkers and their jobs are properly safeguarded. “We’re talking about what the next steps might be. And I’ve stayed on to talk about those next steps because the steel industry is hugely important to the UK and to the British government. And I want to ensure that steelworkers and their jobs are properly safeguarded.”
“And I welcomed the agreement last night from the EU council that they accepted, they agreed the United Kingdom government’s assessment that it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for the attempted murder that took place on the streets of Salisbury and that there was no plausible alternative explanation.”
Theresa MayTheresa May
European UnionEuropean Union
Sergei SkripalSergei Skripal
EuropeEurope
Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar
RussiaRussia
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