Transcript for White House blames Moscow for poisoning former spy

Tensions this morning are escalating with Russia over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the uk. The white house now issuing its strongest words yet saying Russia is responsible for what it is calling the reckless attack with a nerve agent. Our chief foreign correspondent Terry Moran has the latest. Good morning, Terry. Reporter: Good morning, Cecilia. This morning the Kremlin is telling us Vladimir Putin himself will decide soon how to retaliate after the uk's tough response and holding Russia responsible for that chemical weapons attack and while president trump himself has not personally condemned Russia he said he wanted to see the facts and see if he agrees with the facts. Memb members of his administration are pulling no punches. While former Russian spy many sergei skripal and his daughter cling to life, the U.S. Ambassador to the united nations many Nikki Haley demanded Russia come clean for what she called an atrocious crime. The United States believes that Russia is responsible for the attack on two people in the United Kingdom using a military grade nerve agent. Reporter: Theresa may has expelled more than 20 Russian diplomats, the largest expulsion since the cold war. We will not tolerate the threat to life of British people wane others on British soil from the Russian government. Reporter: But ambassador Haley took it even further saying the threat needs to be contained. If we don't take immediate concrete measures to address this now, Salisbury will not be the last place we see chemical weapons used. They could be used here in new York. Reporter: The white house standing with Britain saying in a statement, this fits into a pattern of behavior in which Russia undermines the sovereignty and security of countries worldwide. Well, that statement was certainly welcomed here but politic no mistake this is a crisis for people in Britain, the U.S.' closest ally and in that they look to the president of the United States and are looking to president trump to speak out for America. Cecilia. Okay, Terry, thank you. As Terry said the president still has not directly condemned Russia. So far that's coming from aides. We'll see what happens there.

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