EU allies consider expelling Russians
Several European Union countries say they may follow Britain in expelling Russian diplomats, with European Council chief Donald Tusk predicting that member states will introduce more measures against Moscow for the poisoning of an ex-spy in England.
At a summit in Brussels, the 28 EU leaders agreed with Britain that it was ‘‘highly likely’’ that Russia was responsible for the March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. They remain unconscious in a critical condition in hospital after being exposed to a military-grade nerve agent.
The EU has recalled its ambassador from Moscow for consultations over an incident it called ‘‘a grave challenge to our shared security’’.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the incident was an attack on Europe’s sovereignty that required a ‘‘coordinated and determined response’’.
Tusk called the bloc’s response ‘‘unprecedented’’, and said ‘‘more steps are expected at a national level’’, starting tomorrow.
The strong solidarity from the EU – which Britain is due to leave next year – is a victory for British Prime Minister Theresa May’s efforts to muster international condemnation of a chemical weapons attack on British soil.
Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both said the evidence presented by May at the EU summit was persuasive – comments echoed by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite.
Britain and Russia have expelled 23 of each other’s diplomats since the attack, which has sparked an East-West diplomatic crisis reminiscent of the Cold War.
Rather than pressing the EU for new economic sanctions against Moscow, May is seeking to erode Russia’s extensive spy network by removing intelligence agents operating under diplomatic cover.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said the Baltic nation might follow Britain’s lead and expel Russian diplomats who were judged to be spies next week, in coordination with other EU countries. Neighbouring Lithuania has said it also is considering expulsions. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said it was ‘‘probable’’ that his country would also kick out Russian diplomats, and discussions were continuing.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Ireland would conduct a security assessment of Russian diplomats with a view to possibly expelling those who were not legitimate. Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said his country would also consider ‘‘whether we should take unilateral steps’’.
Macron and Merkel, appearing together at a news conference, declined to say whether they were also planning expulsions, but said more action was needed against Russia.
The EU leaders’ statements came after a summit dinner where May shared information about why Britain is convinced Moscow was behind the attack.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Artyom Kozhin said Russia had not been approached by other countries about potential expulsions.