Point made – it’s time to rebuild this relationship

THE sweeping expulsion of Russian diplomats around the world was inevitably going to provoke a similar response from Moscow. That an Irish diplomat should be flying home because of a chemical-warfare attack in the heart of England seems surreal. And yet it was inevitable, given the Kremlin’s disregard for the normal conduct of affairs between friendly countries.

President Putin can argue that he did not order the attack and that there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

His problem is that the Novichok nerve agent is made by Russia and Russia only – and he is responsible for its use, one way or another. Whether there were rogue actors involved is of little consequence. The onus is on Moscow to take steps to guarantee that such atrocities cannot occur.

It is in the interests of Russia and the West to maintain constructive and warm ties and to co-operate in building stronger ties, rather than cutting them.

What we are seeing has been characterised as a ‘fusion strategy’, using a whole range of measures to advance Russian goals. These have included cyber attacks and interference in elections. But the incident in Salisbury was a step too far. The expulsions from the West were seen as ‘defensive’ in this light, having been provoked by an obvious attack. But the sooner that dialogue and normal relations are restored in order to de-escalate the crisis, the better.