The BBC reports:
Former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned by a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia, Theresa May has told MPs. The PM said the government concluded it was “highly likely” Russia was responsible for the Salisbury attack. The Foreign Office summoned Russia’s ambassador to provide an explanation.
Mrs May said if there is no “credible response” by the end of Tuesday, the UK would conclude there has been an “unlawful use of force” by Moscow. The chemical used in the attack, the PM said, has been identified as being part of a group of nerve agents known as Novichok.
Mrs May said: “Either this was a direct action by the Russian state against our country, or the Russian government lost control of its potentially catastrophically damaging nerve agent and allowed it to get into the hands of others.”
The Hill reports:
The White House on Monday condemned the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy in the U.K. earlier this month but declined to say whether Moscow was responsible. “Right now we are standing with our U.K. ally. I think they’re still working through even some of the details of that,” Sanders said. “And we’re going to continue to work with the U.K., and we certainly stand with them throughout this process.”
Sanders says “we are standing with our U.K. ally” after the nerve agent attack but will not will not say that Russia is behind the attack, despite Theresa May saying it’s “highly likely” Russia is to blame. (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/NL0cZIqhGk
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 12, 2018
Sarah Sanders condemns poisoning of ex-spy in U.K. but declines to accuse Russia despite statements from PM Theresa May. pic.twitter.com/NDGtSiLxab
— Axios (@axios) March 12, 2018
Sanders refuses to condemn Russia for attempted murder and poisoning of a former British spy with a nerve agent in the U.K. pic.twitter.com/f5j0MhuZxo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 12, 2018