We will retaliate, Moscow warns Britain

RUSSIA will retaliate if Britain imposes sanctions in response to the Salisbury poisoning, Moscow warned last night, and hinted at its nuclear capability.

Replying to an ultimatum from Theresa May, Russia’s foreign ministry said Britain must understand threats of punitive action for the attempted murder of Col Sergei Skripal and his daughter would “not be left without a response”.

The Prime Minister will today disclose how the Kremlin has responded to her accusations that a military-grade nerve agent was used recklessly on Britain’s streets. She vowed extensive sanctions if there was “no credible response”. Russia said it had nothing to do with the attack and would ignore the ultimatum. “Any threats to take sanctions against Russia will not be left without a response,” a Russian foreign ministry statement stated. “The British side should understand that.”

Referring to Vladimir Putin’s stateof-the-nation address to top officials earlier this month, in which he said Russia had tested hi-tech nuclear weapons, Maria Zakharova, a foreign ministry spokesman, dismissed Britain’s 24-hour deadline for a response. “What’s that meant to mean?” she asked. “We’re talking about London, which is the capital of a nuclear power. What are they giving us 24 hours for?”

In a speech on March 1, Mr Putin said Russia was developing a new generation of nuclear weapons that could penetrate missile defences, including a missile with a “practically invulnerable” hypersonic warhead.

And Moscow said it would expel British media if the UK forced the Russia state funded broadcaster, RT, off the air. Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog, told RT its licence was under review following Col Skripal’s poisoning. But the Kremlin said “not a single British media outlet” would be allowed to work if RT was shut down.

Meanwhile, the FA said England would take part in the World Cup in Russia and said there had been no talk of a boycott. The FA added it had no information or warnings of any risks to fans, despite MPS fearing they might be targeted in retaliatory attacks.

Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, warned Russia not to underestimate British outrage at the attack and he refused to rule out a retaliatory cyber strike.