Blow for Theresa May as EU refuses to back UK claim Russia was behind nerve agent attack

Emilio Casalicchio

The EU has stopped short of backing the UK government view that Russia was behind the nerve agent attack in Salisbury that left three people fighting for their lives.



Foreign Ministers from the 27 other member states condemned the “reckless and illegal act” and said it “takes extremely seriously” the UK assessment that Moscow was likely the perpetrator.

In a joint statement, they said Russia should “address urgently the questions raised” by the UK and other allies including the US, France and Germany.

The development is embarrassing for Theresa May who has boldly pointed the finger at the Kremlin in the wake of the attack on ex-double agent Sergei Skripal,

Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in hospital after the potentially fatal incident, as does police officer Nick Bailey, who was the first on the scene from the local force.

The statement from the Foreign Ministers said: “The lives of many citizens were threatened by this reckless and illegal act.

“The European Union takes extremely seriously the UK government’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible.”

They added: “The use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances is completely unacceptable and constitutes a security threat to us all.

“Any such use is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, a breach of international law and undermines the rules-based international order."

And they said: “The union calls on Russia to address urgently the questions raised by the UK and the international community and to provide immediate, full and complete disclosure of its novichok programme to the OPCW.

“The European Union expresses its unqualified solidarity with the UK and its support, including for the UK’s efforts to bring those responsible for this crime to justice.

“The EU will remain closely focussed on this issue and its implications.”

'THEY WOULD HAVE JUST DIED'

After winning the Russian presidential election with 76.6% of the popular vote, Vladimir Putin said the claims Moscow was behind the attack were “nonsense”.

He said Mr Skripal and Yulia “would have just died” if a military-grade nerve agent had been used, as the UK insists.

The Kremlin has called on Britain to provide evidence of its allegations “sooner or later or apologise”.

Mr Johnson said on arrival in Brussels this morning: “I think what people can see is that this is a classic Russian strategy of trying to conceal the needle of truth in a haystack of lies and obfuscation.”

He added: “There is scarcely a country round the table here in Brussels, that has not been affected by some kind of malign of disruptive Russian behaviour. That is why I think the strength and resolve of our European friends is so striking today."

After the joint statement from fellow foreign ministers Mr Johnson welcomed their support.

Welcome EU’s “unqualified solidarity” and support today in Brussels on Skripal case - first use of a military-grade nerve agent in Europe for 70+ years. EU partners clear Russia must provide immediate, full, complete disclosure of its Novichok programme https://t.co/RsGZA7CaAi — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 19, 2018