STA, March 26, 2018 – Slovenia has not joined 15 EU member states that decided to expel Russian diplomats in the wake of a nerve toxin attack in Salisbury on 4 March. Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec said on Monday that it was too soon to decide on action because it must be first determined what exactly had happened.

"We stick to the position adopted by the European Council that it must be determined what actually has happened," he told the press while he was in parliament for an unrelated session of a parliamentary body.

He said that the matter will definitely be discussed by the government on Thursday.

The statement comes only days after EU leaders showed support for the UK's position on Friday that Russia was most likely behind the attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter in Salisbury.

Prime Minister Miro Cerar showed reservations while attending the summit in Brussels last week. He said it would be good to wait for the results of an investigation by independent international institutions.

Fifteen member states, the US, Canada, Ukraine and Albania announced today that they would expel Russian diplomats, while EU Council President Donald Tusk also said there was the possibility of additional measures.

The UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats a while ago and the Kremlin responded by expelling 23 UK diplomats. Russia has said that it would respond in a similar manner to any additional expulsions of its diplomats.