Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia is standing in solidarity with the United Kingdom and its allies after banishing two Russian spies back to Moscow.

Australia is set to expel the "undeclared intelligence officers" along with the 21 countries who have sent 130 diplomats back to Russia in what the UK has declared the largest collective action in history.

"We are standing in solidarity with the United Kingdom that we will not tolerate this type of reckless undermining of international law, this reckless assault on the sovereignty of nations," Mr Turnbull said in Canberra this afternoon.

Mr Turnbull addressed the media in Canberra after banishing two Russian spies back to Moscow. (AAP) (AAP)

Two Russian diplomats will be expelled from Australia in response to the nerve agent attack in the UK earlier this month. (AAP) (AP/AAP)

9NEWS this morning broke the news that Australia would follow suit by expelling two undeclared intelligence officials based at the Russian Embassy in Canberra.

The unprecedented international action comes just weeks after former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia became the victims of a nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

"The brazen, criminal attack ... was an attack on all of us," Mr Turnbull said.

"It was a calculated attack to carry out an assassination. It was a disgraceful assault on the sovereignty of the United Kingdom and on the rule of law, and we utterly condemn it."

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia were attacked with a nerve agent in Salisbury. (AAP) (Supplied)

The prime minister said the nerve agent attack "reflects a pattern of recklessness and aggression by the Russian government".

Listing the annexation of Crimea, the invasion of eastern Ukraine and the downing of MH17, as well as efforts to manipulate western nations' elections, he said the latest incident demanded a response.

"To do nothing would only encourage further efforts to undermine the international, rules-based order upon which our security and prosperity rely," Mr Turnbull said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is yet to respond to the moves by Australia and other nations. Mr Putin is pictured here with Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. (AAP) (AP/AAP)

In a joint statement issued this morning, Mr Turnbull and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said the two Russian officials would be removed from Australia within seven days.

The last expulsion from Australia was of two Syrian diplomats in 2012 over the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons.

"We do not take such decisions lightly," Ms Bishop said this afternoon.

"We see this as a direct attack on the international rules-based system. And Australia is a staunch defender of (that system)."

Russian ambassador Grigory Logvinov at Parliament House today. (AAP) (AAP)

But Russian ambassador to Australia Grigory Logvinov said his country was not responsible for the Skripal poisoning and described the government's decision as "disappointing".

"There are only professional career diplomats in my embassy here," he told ABC radio.

He said he would be happy to meet Ms Bishop to discuss the matter.

Asked if it was fair to call the expelled Canberra-based diplomats "spies", Mr Logvinov told reporters with a smile: "Don't ask funny questions."

He said any retaliation would be up to President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian embassy in Canberra said Australia's decision was "regrettable" because no one had impartial, exhaustive information about the Skripal case.

"It is astonishing how easily the allies of Great Britain follow it blindly," the embassy said in a statement.

Ms Bishop said a further escalation of diplomatic action was possible, including a boycott of the football World Cup in Russia.

"There are a whole range of options of further actions that could be taken. The World Cup is one of the further actions," she said.

But in relief for Socceroos fans, the prospect of the team not attending the tournament is still a remote possibility.

What is more likely is that the Australian government joins the UK in a "state boycott" of the event, where no political leaders travel to Russia.

European Council president Donald Tusk has announced 14 EU countries will also expel Russian diplomats. (EPA/AAP) (AAP)

The United States led the charge of sanctions overnight, ordering out 60 diplomats and flagging that it will close a Russian consulate in Seattle, located near America’s sensitive aerospace hub and a submarine base.

The Ukraine is set to send 13 Russian officials home.

The move has been decried as provocative by Moscow which has vowed to retaliate.

Newly re-elected president Vladimir Putin has already expelled a number of British diplomats.

Ms Bishop said she anticipates Australian diplomats will be expelled from Moscow in response.

"Given the fact that the Russians expelled 23 British diplomats in response to the British expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats, it is my expectation Russia will likewise expel a commensurate number of diplomats that have taken action overnight," she said.

"Our conversation with the Russian Ambassador would lead us to believe that Russia intends to expel Australian diplomats from our embassy in Moscow. We anticipate this and are planning for this to occur.

"They are under no obligation to give reasons why."