Vladimir Putin Vows to Expel British Diplomats from Moscow in Retaliation
Russian President, Vladimir Putin has vowed to expel British diplomats from Moscow in retaliation after British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that 23 Russian diplomats will be expelled from the UK (read here) over the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergie Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
The Kremlin said retaliatory steps would happen “soon”. President Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the foreign ministry was working out measures but added that President Putin “will make the final decision” and that it “won’t take long” for him to respond.
Russia’s Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov condemned claims Russia was behind the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal in Salisbury on March 4 as “absolutely boorish” and “unacceptable”.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned what she said were “absolutely insane accusations made by the UK prime minister against Russia”, adding that the UK had failed to provide any factual information about the case. She said diplomatic notes sent to the Foreign Office had received replies that “made no sense”.
