May asks EU leaders to 'stand together' against Russian aggression
Theresa May will address a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and will warn then to stay united against a threat from Russia after the Salisbury poisoning.
The prime minister is expected to brief the bloc's leaders on the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and say that Russia shows no respect for international law and all countries are at risk.
She will also say that Putin’s aggression will last for years, “As a European democracy the United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder with the European Union and with NATO to face these threats together. United, we will succeed.”
The European council is expected to condemn the attack although Russia denies any implication. Even so, according to the BBC, EU countries will not follow Britain in taking further steps such as expelling diplomats or suspected spies.
British French and US diplomats held meetings with senior Russian officials in Moscow on Wednesday. A British diplomat read out the PM’s charge sheet of responsibility but the Kremlin denied any responsibility in the incident and blamed the UK.
Head of the Russian foreign ministry’s arms control department Vladimir Yermakov said: “The British authorities are either unable to ensure protection from such a terrorist attack on its territory, or they directly or indirectly directed the attack on a Russian national”.
Some responses being considered include withdrawing the England football team from the World Cup hosted in Russia. Boris Johnson, currently UK foreign secretary, likened Putin’s way of promoting the football competition to Hitler’s 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The summit of leaders are expected to discuss Brexit matters on Friday to which Theresa May will not attend. The 21-month transition deal draft will be a key point in the meetings although it may not be approved if Spain decides to block the agreement in a vote.
Spain complained on Wednesday that the draft did not specify that the deal would not apply to the region of Gibraltar unless Spain gave its approval.