European nations expel Russian diplomats after ex-spy poisoning

EMMANUEL DUNAND | AFP | Getty Images

(From L) French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May talk as they attend an European Union leaders summit, on June 22, 2017, at the European Council in Brussels.

A slew of European nations announced they are expelling Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of an ex-spy on British soil in early March.

The EU member states have agreed to take punitive measures against Russia for the nerve-agent attack on the former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Both have been in critical condition in hospital since being found unconscious in south west England at the start of the month.

Russia has denied responsibility for the attack, while the Kremlin has already retaliated to Britain’s expulsion of Russian diplomats by ordering out the same number of Britons.

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