RUSSIA WILL EXPEL BRITISH DIPLOMATS

Geopolitical tensions are mounting since the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury

Russia will expel British diplomats in a worsening global standoff over a nerve agent attack on an ex-spy — but still isn’t saying when or how many.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday also accused Britain of violating international law and said Britain’s defense minister “lacks education.”

Geopolitical tensions are mounting since the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this month, in what Western powers see as the latest sign of increasingly aggressive Russian meddling abroad. The tensions threaten to overshadow Vladimir Putin’s expected re-election Sunday for another six-year term.

Accusing the Russian state of the nerve agent attack, Britain is expelling 23 Russian diplomats and is trying to build a coalition of countries to punish Moscow.

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s office said Friday that Australian leader Malcolm Turntween bull joined her in condemnation of the attack. In an unusual joint move Wednesday, the U.S., France and Germany also pointed the finger at Russia.

The source of the nerve agent used — which Britain says is Soviet-made Novichok — is unclear. A report Friday in the Telegraph says it was put in the suitcase of Skripal’s daughter before she left Russia for Britain to see her father.

Russia denies being the source of the nerve agent, suggesting it could have been another country, and has demanded Britain share samples collected by investigators.