Pressure mounts on Putin

MOSCOW: International pressure mounted on Russia’s Vladimir Putin over the Cold- War style poisoning of a spy on British soil, as an ugly war of words took a stinging new turn with comparisons to Hitler in the 1930s.

US President Donald Trump agreed with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron “on the need to take action to hold Russia accountable” following the attempted murder of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Trump expressed “solidarity with the United Kingdom in the wake of Russia’s use of chemical weapons against private citizens said on Wednesday after a phone call between the pair.

However the comments came a day after Trump called Putin to congratulate him on his re-election to the Russian presidency, drawing criticism for failing to condemn the poisoning or even mention the scandal.

was behind the attack on Skripal and his daughter, who remain in a critical condition after being poisoned in the English town of Salisbury with what London says is a Soviet-designed nerve agent.

the claims and on Wednesday - eign diplomats at which a senior mentality” and “Russophobia.”

- mir Yermakov said London itself could have been behind the poisoning of Skripal, a former 2010 spy swap.

- ther unable to ensure protection from such a... terrorist attack on its territory, or they directly or indirectly— I am not accusing anyone of anything here— directed the attack on a Russian national,” he said.

Yermakov— the head of the ministry’s non-proliferation and arms control department— alternated between tough talk and quips and said in response to a “I am ashamed for you.”

The diplomat rejected claims the chemical weapon “Novichok” was used in the attack, saying it would have killed people on the spot and suggested that Washington might have also had a hand in the incident.

Hitler comparisons

The deepening row has already diplomats, prompting a tit- fortat response from Moscow which cultural institute in Russia.

Johnson said on Wednesday that Russia had wanted to send “a sign” with the nerve agent attack on Skripal to warn defectors that they cannot escape Moscow’s power.

In an appearance before a committee of MPs in London, Johnson because of London’s record of “calling out” Moscow’s abuses.

“I think the reason that they picked the United Kingdom is very simple, it’s because this is a country that does have that particular set of values, it does believe in freedom, and in democracy and in the rule of law, and has time and again called out Russia over its abuses of those values.”

Johnson also agreed with an MP who suggested Putin would exploit the 2018 football World Cup in Russia as Nazi dicta Olympics.

Hitler wanted the 1936 Games to be a symbol of Aryan supremacy and famously refused to shake hands with American star Jesse Owens, the black track and

“I think the comparison with 1936 is certainly right,” Johnson said, envisaging Putin “glorying in this sporting event.”

The spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry Maria Zakharova said in a Facebook post that “[Johnson] is poisoned by hatred and malice, a lack of professionalism and therefore rudeness.”

“It’s terrible to think that this man represents the political leadership of a nuclear power,” she said.

‘Drivel, rubbish, nonsense’

Putin has dismissed allegations of Moscow’s involvement as “drivel, rubbish, nonsense,” while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov government to “respond calmly” to the Skripals’ attempted murder.

- tinues taking some anti-Russian measures, we will hit back under the principle of reciprocity,” he said in Japan.

“Overall, there is no doubt knowingly chosen to undermine

the capability, motive and intent to be behind the attack.