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Russia warns UK it is 'playing with fire and will be sorry' over Salisbury spy poisoning Russia warns UK it is 'playing with fire and will be sorry' over Salisbury spy poisoning
(35 minutes later)
Russia's ambassador to the UN warned British officials they are "playing with fire" and would be "sorry" over their response to a nerve agent attack on a former double agent in Salisbury. Russia's ambassador to the United Nations has warned British officials they are "playing with fire" and will be "sorry" over their response to the poisoning of a former double agent and his daughter in Salisbury.
Theresa May has said Russia was "highly likely" behind the attack, but Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya called her allegations "horrific and unsubstantiated". Theresa May has said it was "highly likely" that Russia was behind the attack, with the UK and a number of Western allies expelling more than 150 diplomats in response. Moscow has said it will respond to such measures in kind and speaking at a UN Security Council meeting that the Russian's called over the poisoning, Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya called Ms May's allegations "horrific and unsubstantiated".
"Couldn't you come up with a better fake story?" he asked at a UN Security Council meeting, adding: "We have told our British colleagues that you're playing with fire and you'll be sorry.""Couldn't you come up with a better fake story?" he asked at a UN Security Council meeting, adding: "We have told our British colleagues that you're playing with fire and you'll be sorry."
Russia called the Security Council meeting after the country was locked out of a probe of the poisoning by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Russia called the meeting after the country was locked out of an investigation of the Salisbury poisoning by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Britain called on the watchdog group to investigate after ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned last month. Officials said the nerve agent used in the attack was novichok, a class of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1990s.
Britain called on the watchdog group to investigate after ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned last month. Officials said the nerve agent used in the attack was Novichok – a chemical weapon developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1990s. Mr Nebenzya said the poison had been developed in many countries, "in spite of the obviously Russian name". He also accused Britain of attempting to "discredit and delegitimise" Russia. 
Mr Nebenzya said the poison had been developed in many countries, "in spite of the obviously Russian name". He also accused Britain of attempting to "discredit and delegitimise" Russia.  Russia had called for a joint investigation into the poisoning – a suggestion that the Hague-based OPCW ultimately voted down. Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia may not be able to accept the results of the investigation if it cannot participate.
The day before, the country had called for a joint investigation into the poisoning – a suggestion that the Hague-based OPCW ultimately voted down. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia may not be able to accept the results of the investigation if it cannot participate.
"We can't give an advance approval to results of the investigation, in which we aren't taking part and which is kept secret," he said. "We would accept the results of any investigation that would be fair, not the one organised in a fraudulent way." "We can't give an advance approval to results of the investigation, in which we aren't taking part and which is kept secret," he said. "We would accept the results of any investigation that would be fair, not the one organised in a fraudulent way." 
British Ambassador Karen Pierce said before the Security Council meeting that she had "a bit of a fear" that Moscow is trying "to build a narrative" for rejecting the watchdog's findings.British Ambassador Karen Pierce said before the Security Council meeting that she had "a bit of a fear" that Moscow is trying "to build a narrative" for rejecting the watchdog's findings.
Deputy US Ambassador Kelley Currie her support behind the British diplomat, saying it was the US's "firm belief that Russia is responsible for this chemical weapons attack on UK soil". Ms Pierce later told the Security Council that Britain's actions “stand up to any scrutiny” and pledged to keep the body updated on the inquiry. “We have nothing to hide ... but I do fear that Russia might have something to fear,” Ms Pierce added,
The US sent home 60 Russian diplomats last week in a show of solidarity with the UK – the largest expulsion of Russian diplomats in American history. The US, UK, and two dozen Western allies have expelled more than 150 Russian diplomats in recent days. Deputy US Ambassador Kelley Currie put her support behind the British diplomat, saying it was the US's "firm belief that Russia is responsible for this chemical weapons attack on UK soil". The US sent home 60 Russian diplomats last week in a show of solidarity with the UK – the largest single expulsion of Russian diplomats in American history.
Also on Thursday, Yulia Skripal released her first statement since she was poisoning, saying she disoriented from the attack but getting stronger every day. Her father remains in a coma. Earlier, Moscow's ambassador to London Alexander Yakovenko said Russia had never made novichok. He said the Kremlin would accept the results of OPCW tests but only if there was transparency and they were confirmed by experts from outside Europe and Nato.
Russia is reportedly seeking consular access to the Skripals as they seek to defend themselves from the UK's allegations. Ms Pierce said the request had been conveyed to Ms Skripal, but the final decision would be up to her. While scientists at the Porton Down biological and chemical weapons laboratory near Salisbury have concluded the toxin was novichok, its chief executive said on Tuesday they had not yet determined whether it was made in Russia.
Britain says there is no plausible explanation other than that Russia was behind the attack and foreign secretary Boris Johnson has accused Russia of running a disinformation campaign, with Mr Yakovenko suggesting Moscow wants its own answers fro Britain.
“We have a lot of suspicions about Britain,” said Mr Yakovenko. “If you take the last 10 years, so many Russian citizens died here in the UK, under very strange circumstances ... My question is why is it happening here?”
Also on Thursday, Yulia Skripal released her first statement since the poisoning, saying she was disoriented from the attack but getting stronger every day. Her father remains in a coma.
The attack left the Skripals in a critical condition and while her father remains stable in intensive care, Yulia's health has improved rapidly. In her statement through British police Ms Skripal thanked hospital staff and people who came to her help when “when my father and I were incapacitated”.
“I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily. I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received,” Ms Skripal, 33, said.
“I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you'll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence,” the statement said.
Hours before the statement, Russian state TV and Interfax news agency claimed that Yulia had phoned her cousin Viktoria Skripal in Russia, saying she and her father were both recovering and that she expected to leave hospital soon.
“Everything is fine, everything is fixable, everyone is getting better, everyone is alive,” they quoted her as saying. Asked about her father's health, Yulia was cited as saying: “Everything is fine, he is resting right now, sleeping ... Nobody has any problems that can't be put right.”
Russian state TV said it could not vouch for the authenticity of the quotes.
Russia is also said to be seeking consular access to the Skripals as they seek to defend themselves from the UK's allegations. Ms Pierce said the request had been conveyed to Ms Skripal, but the final decision would be up to her. A British Foreign Office spokesman had earlier said:
“We have conveyed to Ms Skripal the Russian Embassy's offer of consular assistance. Ms Skripal is now able to choose if and when to take up this offer, but to date she has not done so.”
Additional reporting by agenciesAdditional reporting by agencies