COMMENT

Russian president Vladimir Putin last night dismissed British accusations of Russia’s involvement in ex-spy Sergei Skripal’s poisoning as “nonsense”, adding that Moscow was ready to co-operate with London in the inquiry.

Mr Putin referred to the attack on Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia as a “tragedy”, but said that if British claims that they were poisoned by the Soviet-designed nerve agent were true, the victims would have died instantly.

He said it was “nonsense” to think that anyone in Russia could have staged such an attack shortly before yesterday’s presidential vote and before the football World Cup that Russia is set to host this summer.

In his first comments about the poisoning, the Russian leader said Moscow was ready

“Vladimir Putin is responsible whichever wayyoulookatit;he is responsible and all the evidence points to him”

JOHN MCDONNELL