Elena Teslova
MOSCOW: Russia will expel British diplomats in response to U.K. actions, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday, adding fuel to an escalating row over the attempted murder of an ex-Russian spy living in England.
“Certainly. Soon,” Lavrov said when asked at a forum in Moscow if Russia will order British diplomats to leave.
Lavrov called the U.K. actions “the nervous reaction to Russia’s return as an equal partner.”
On Wednesday, Britain announced it was expelling 23 Russian diplomats after Moscow missed a deadline to explain how a Russian-made nerve agent was used in the attempted murder. Lavrov ad-ded:
“I think this story refl-ects the British government’s inability to fulfill its responsibilities under Brexit.”
Earlier Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the U.K.’s reaction to the attack on the ex-spy “irresponsible.”
Meanwhile, President Putin expressed deep concern over the U.K.’s position in the attempted murder of ex-Russian spy living in Eng-land.
The concern was exp-ressed during the president’s meeting with members of the Russian Security Cou-ncil, Kremlin has said in a st-atement on its official website.
“An extreme concern regarding destructive and provocative position took by Great Britain in Skripal case is expressed,” it said.
Earlier, Lavrov said former Russian spy Sergey Skripal and his daughter were alive, and he expressed the hope that they both survive so that they would be able to clarify the situation.
Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were admitted to a hospital after being found unconscious on a bench on March 4 in the southern English city of Salisbury.
The incident has been compared to the 2006 death of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko after being poisoned with a radioactive substance in a central London hotel.
Former KGB bodyguards identified as suspects in the murder denied any involvement. Lavrov also said Russia is ready to work with Mike Pompeo, the incoming U.S. secretary of state.
“We are ready to work with anyone,” he said.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump named CIA Director Pompeo the next U.S. secretary of state, ousting Rex Tillerson.
The Russian foreign minister also said Iranian, Russian and Turkish foreign ministers will give recommendations to Syrian government and opposition during an upcoming meeting in Astana.
Speaking at the forum “Russia is a country of possibilities” in Moscow, Lavrov said: “In Astana, with foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey we will see how Sochi statement is being implemented and will define our recommendations to all parties, both to the Syrian government and to the Syrian opposition.”
He also said Russia did not see any risks in the S-400 air defense systems deal with Turkey.
“I don’t think we have to be concerned regarding S-400 delivery to Turkey.
“I am deeply convinced one cannot be on the swords with neighbors”, he said.
About Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s Afrin region, Lavrov said the U.S. had “sincerely provoked Turkey” by its actions in the eastern part of Syria.
“Announcing, that the U.S. and Kurds will take control over Syrian-Iraqi border, the US sincerely provoked Turk-ey to launch the operation.
“That was absolutely unprofessionally, illiberally… if those who made such an announcement in Washington hoped Turkey would just remain calm and look at what is happening, they have no idea what is the balance of power in the Middle East and in Syria in particular is.” (AA)
