Russian spy attack: Donald Trump backs Theresa May’s expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats

The White House was critical of Russia and said it shared the UK's assessment that Moscow was behind the Salisbury attack

Donald Trump has offered his strongest support yet for Theresa May, saying that the US shares the UK’s assessment that Russia was behind the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

In a statement that followed a significant US intervention at the United Nations in support of Britain’s position, the White House said it backed the Prime Minister’s decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats.

But French support was more equivocal with Emmanuel Macron’s spokesman declining to blame Russia in the same way until it had seen more evidence, though a later statement said France’s support was “unquestionable”.

The row over the 4 March attack involving a Russian-made “Novichok” nerve agent that left ex- spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in a serious condition, is set to deepen today with Moscow planning how it will retaliate against Ms May’s actions, which also include asset freezes and new powers to tackle people planning “hostile activity”.

In a statement he White House stated: “The United States stands in solidarity with its closest ally, the United Kingdom.

“The United States shares the United Kingdom’s assessment that Russia is responsible for the reckless nerve agent attack on a British citizen and his daughter, and we support the United Kingdom’s decision to expel Russian diplomats as a just response.

“This latest action by Russia fits into a pattern of behaviour in which Russia disregards the international rules-based order, undermines the sovereignty and security of countries worldwide, and attempts to subvert and discredit Western democratic institutions and processes.”

French government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said on Wednesday that it was too early to decide on retaliatory measures as Russian involvement was yet to be proven.

But amid reports that France’s backing for Ms May’s approach was wavering, an Elysee source said: “France’s solidarity with the UK is unquestionable.

The United States shares the United Kingdom’s assessment that Russia is responsible for the reckless nerve agent attack on a British citizen and his daughter

The White House

“President Macron denounced as early as Tuesday the Salisbury chemical attack as unacceptable and assured Prime Minister May the UK had France’s full support. Both leaders will discuss the matter yet again this Thursday.

“Since the beginning of this week, the UK has briefed its allies thoroughly, and France in particular, that it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for the attack.”

The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, accused Russia of a “crime” worthy of action by the UN Security Council, as she backed Britain’s attempts to punish Moscow for the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury.

In an urgent meeting called by the UK Ms Haley told the Security Council the US believes “Russia is responsible for the attack on two people in the United Kingdom using a military-grade nerve agent”.

She said: “Alone, Russia’s crime is worthy of this council’s action, but this is not an isolated incident. The assassination attempt in Salisbury is part of an alarming increase in the use of chemical weapons”.

She added that American officials “take no pleasure in constantly criticising Russia,” but “it must account for its actions”.

On Wednesday Ms May moved to dismantle a Russian spy “network” in the UK, expelling 23 embassy officials in the biggest number of diplomatic expulsions since the Cold War.

The dramatic decision to remove “undeclared intelligence officers” came alongside measures to freeze Russian assets, cut off high-level communication with Moscow, pass new anti-espionage powers and isolate Vladimir Putin at the UN.

It is believed that the Government has already drawn up a “B-list” of further Russian officials to be expelled if the reaction from Moscow to the measures announced by Ms May are deemed to be “disproportionate”.