Trump says he will wait for the "facts" and whether "we agree with them" on the poisoning of a double agent on British soil.

US president says he will speak to British prime minister Theresa May later on Tuesday.

May has said it is "highly likely" Russia is responsible.

Trump: "as soon as we get the facts straight, if we agree with them, we will condemn Russia or whoever it may be."

LONDON — Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will wait for "the facts" about the poisoning of the Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain last week, before condemning Russia for it.

Speaking outside the White House, the US President said he was expecting to talk to UK Prime Minister Theresa May later on Tuesday.

"As soon as we get the facts straight, and we're going to be speaking with the British today, we're speaking with Theresa May today, and as soon as we get the facts straight, if we agree with them, we will condemn Russia or whoever it may be," Trump said.

Watch Trump on the suspected Russian poisoning

"As soon as we get the facts straight, if we agree with them, we will condemn Russia or whoever it may be" - President Trump on Salisbury poisoning https://t.co/fiPPBhAZFc pic.twitter.com/wv5kWRIK2e — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 13, 2018

Trump's comments follow criticism from a number of British MPs earlier on Tuesday, for his then silence on the issue.

The UK government has given Russia until the end of the day to give a "credible" explanation for the Skripal's poisoning.

May will then meet with members of her National Security Council on Wednesday morning before updating the House of Commons about any steps Britain will take to retaliate for the attack.