EU backs Britain on Russian culpability

THE EU last night unanimously agreed with Britain’s assertion that it is “highly likely” Russia was responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

The decision came after Theresa May, the Prime Minister, gave EU leaders at the European Council summit in Brussels a detailed account of the evidence.

Mrs May also warned her allies that Russia represents a “long-term” threat to each of them and urged them to consider taking action either individually or as a bloc.

Afterwards, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, tweeted: “European Council agrees with UK government that highly likely Russia is responsible for Salisbury attack and that there is no other plausible explanation.”

It comes amid threats that the Russian spy network could be dismantled within weeks as five EU countries indicated they are prepared to follow Mrs May’s lead by expelling diplomats suspected of espionage. France, Poland, Lithuania and at least two other countries are understood to be in discussions about coordinated expulsions of Russian officials.

Following a meeting between Mrs May, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, French officials hinted that the country was ready to act. Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel agreed on sending “a strong European message” to Russia.

EU leaders are expected to make a joint statement today in which they say they “stand in unqualified solidarity” with Britain “in the face of this grave challenge to our shared security”.

A leaked copy of a draft agreement of the European Council includes an acceptance that the use of chemical weapons “constitutes a security threat to us all”.