The Federal Government is expelling two Russian spies from Australia within a week, in solidarity with the United Kingdom over a nerve agent attack earlier this month.

Key points: PM, Foreign Minister confirmed two Russian spies would be directed to leave within seven days

PM, Foreign Minister confirmed two Russian spies would be directed to leave within seven days More than a dozen European nations and the US have already expelled Russian diplomats

More than a dozen European nations and the US have already expelled Russian diplomats Russia issued a statement strongly condemning the action from other countries

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister released a joint statement this morning confirming two diplomats had been identified as undeclared intelligence officers and would be "directed to depart Australia within seven days".

Australia's actions mirror the response taken by the United States and more than a dozen European nations in response to the attempted murder of a Russian double agent and his daughter in Salisbury in England.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his deputy Julie Bishop spoke this afternoon about the decision, saying it would send a "clear and unequivocal message" to Russia.

Who is taking action? The United States will expel 60 diplomats and close a Russian consulate in Seattle

will expel 60 diplomats and close a Russian consulate in Seattle Australia has directed two "undeclared intelligence officers" to leave within seven days

has directed two "undeclared intelligence officers" to leave within seven days Britain had earlier booted out 23 Russian diplomats

had earlier booted out 23 Russian diplomats Canada said it was kicking out four diplomats and denying applications to three

said it was kicking out four diplomats and denying applications to three Ukraine , a non-EU country with its own conflicts with Moscow, will expel 13 diplomats

, a non-EU country with its own conflicts with Moscow, will expel 13 diplomats Germany , Poland and France each plan to boot four diplomats

, and each plan to boot four diplomats Lithuania and the Czech Republic will expel three

and the will expel three Italy , the Netherlands , Denmark and Albania will expel two each

, , and will expel two each Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Finland, Latvia and Estonia will expel one each

"This was a disgraceful attack … on the sovereignty of the United Kingdom and the rule of law and we utterly condemn it," Mr Turnbull said.

"The fact that Russia is a member of the United Nations Security Council, the body tasked with ensuring global security, makes this breach of international law especially dangerous and shocking."

Mr Turnbull said the nerve agent attack reflected a "pattern of recklessness and aggression by the Russian Government", pointing to the annexation of Crimea and the downing of a commercial airliner over eastern Ukraine as other recent examples.

He also mentioned "credible reports" of Russia meddling in elections and the Brexit referendum.

"The Foreign Minister and I want to stress that Australia has no dispute with the Russian people … this is about the actions of the Russian Government," the Prime Minister said.

Ms Bishop said the ambassador had been informed this morning that two Russian officials had been declared "persona non grata" and would be expected to leave the country within seven days.

Sorry, this video has expired There has been movement at the Russian embassy this morning following the Government's announcement.

The Russian embassy released a statement later today describing the Federal Government's decision as "regrettable".

It also said the worldwide reaction to the nerve agent attack would "only trigger further erosion of international relations architecture on which peace and security in the whole world during the post-war period were rested".

"It is astonishing how easily the allies of Great Britain follow it blindly, contrary to the norms of civilised bilateral dialogue and international relations, and against the common sense," the statement said.

"It is categorically unacceptable to expose Russia as a threat to international peace as well as to attribute some kind of 'recklessness and irresponsibility' to our foreign policy in a groundless and unsubstantiated way."

Britain says former MI6 agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were attacked with a military-grade nerve toxin. ( Reuters: Peter Nicholls )

Australian diplomats expected to be expelled from Moscow

A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry said there would be an answer for every country that expels Russian representatives.

Ms Bishop said she expected this would include Australian diplomats in Russia.

"We believe that Russia intends to expel diplomats from our embassy in Moscow," she said.

"We are planning for this to occur and our expectation is that … they will expel Australian diplomats. They are under no obligation to give reasons as to why."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull briefed Labor leader Bill Shorten about the expulsions this morning.

Mr Shorten said he was very supportive of the decision to remove the Russian diplomats.

Sorry, this video has expired Bill Shorten said he was "very supportive" of the action against Russia.

British High Commissioner to Australia, Menna Rawlings, tweeted her thanks to the Australian Government for its support in the wake of the nerve agent attack.

"Nerve agent use on [UK] soil demands concerted diplomatic action to avoid culture of impunity and to support our collective security. Great to have [Australia] with us," she said.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May thanked all world leaders who had moved to expel Russian diplomats in support of her country, saying that together, those countries would send a strong message to Russia.

"This is the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history," she told the UK Parliament.

"I have found great solidarity from our friends and partners in the EU, North America, NATO and beyond over the past three weeks, as we have confronted the aftermath of the Salisbury incident.

"And together we have sent a message that we will not tolerate Russia's continued attempts to flout international law and undermine our values."

Sorry, this video has expired UK Prime Minister Theresa May thanked world leaders who have expelled Russian diplomats.

Russia warned against further sanctions, World Cup boycott

Australia has had economic sanctions against Russia in place since 2014, when President Vladimir Putin's forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

Those sanctions were strengthened after the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine.

They restricted exports and imports between Russia and Australia and included targeted financial sanctions and travel bans for some individuals from Russia and Ukraine.

Asked whether Australian sanctions would be strengthened further, Ms Bishop noted sanctions were strongest when imposed collectively, and said she would continue to liaise with the UK Foreign Office and other allies to coordinate.

She did not rule out other action, including a mention of the upcoming Soccer World Cup, to be hosted in Russia.

The ABC understands Football Federation Australia has asked the Foreign Minister's office for further information.

Russia's top Australian diplomat spoke to the ABC last week about the fallout from the nerve gas attack, and urged authorities not to let the issue interfere with the World Cup.

"The English soccer team would be always welcome," ambassador Grigory Logvinov said.

"We would be disappointed that sport once again is being victimised to the politics."

He said any further sanctions against Russia would result in a worse situation for Australia.

"Australia's not the biggest Russian trading partner," he said.

Russian Ambassador Grigory Logvinov spoke to the ABC last week about the fallout from the nerve gas attack. ( ABC News: Ross Nerdal )

Liberal backbencher Tony Abbott — who, as prime minister, famously threatened to "shirtfront" Mr Putin over the MH17 disaster — said he welcomed the Federal Government's decision.

"I'm pleased our Government has taken strong action," he said.

"Let's never forget that it was a Russian missile that crossed over into the eastern Ukraine and brought down that jet MH17 and cost the lives of some 39 Australians."

Governments expel diplomats under the Geneva convention on diplomatic relations.

It states that a country can ask the representatives of another nation to leave at any time and without explanation.

In April 1983, Bob Hawke's Labor government expelled the First Secretary, Valery Ivanov, from what was then the Soviet embassy over spying.

More recently, in 2012, Australia expelled all Syrian diplomats in response to atrocities in Syria.

That expulsion occurred in a similar co-ordinated way to the current Russian situation.

Australia's then foreign minister Bob Carr's announcement in May 2012 mirrored actions by the US, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, who all ordered out the highest-ranking Syrian diplomats in their countries.