US Believes Russia is Responsible, Meanwhile UK Expels 23 Russian Diplomats from Britain
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said yesterday that the US believes Russia is responsible for the chemical attack on Sergei Skripal.
“The United States believes that Russia is responsible for the attack on two people in the United Kingdom using a military-grade nerve agent,” Haley told a Security Council meeting.
Meanwhile, British prime minister Theresa May is giving 23 Russian diplomats a week to leave, with the UK telling the UN Security Council that Russia used “a weapon so horrific that it is banned in war in a peaceful British city.” Jonathan Allen, Britain’s UN Ambassador, has accused Russia of breaking the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, saying
“We will stand by the values which are shared by the overwhelming majority of those in this council in this United Nations and we ask you today, to stand by us”
After Moscow refused to co-operate with the deadline set by Theresa May, the PM wants to sent a clear message to Russia and imposed the following:
- Expelling 23 Russian diplomats
- Suspending all high-level bilateral contracts between Russia and the UK
- Consideration of new laws, increasing defences against “hostile state activity”
- Increasing checks on private flights, customs and freight
- Freezing Russian state assets where they are believed to be used to harm UK residents or property
- The Royal Family not visiting the Fifa World Cup in Russia this year
