Civic Register
| 3.15.18

U.S., France, Germany Blame Russia for U.K. Nerve Agent Attack

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What’s the story?

  • In a joint statement, leaders from France, Germany, and the U.S. formally agreed with Britain’s claims that Russia was behind a nerve agent attack on a former spy and his daughter who were living in Salisbury, U.K.

What are they jointly stating?

  • The four leaders condemned the "first offensive use of a nerve agent" in Europe since World War II.

  • President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House: "It certainly looks like the Russians were behind it, something that should never ever happen. We are taking it very seriously as, I think, are many others."

  • The countries’ leaders said their concerns were "heightened against the background of a pattern of earlier irresponsible Russian behavior. We call on Russia to live up to its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council to uphold international peace and security."

  • A day earlier, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, expressed solidarity with the U.K.:

"The United States believes that Russia is responsible for the attack on two people in the United Kingdom using a military-grade nerve agent. If we don’t take immediate, concrete measures to address this now, Salisbury will not be the last place we see chemical weapons used. They could be used here in New York or in cities of any country that sits on this Council."

  • The statement was released the same day the U.S. Treasury Department announced it was imposing fresh economic sanctions on five "entities" and 19 individuals for interfering in the 2016 presidential election and for conducting a series of cyberattacks.

  • Russia has denied responsibility for the attack and promised to retaliate against British Prime Minister Theresa May’s expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from the U.K.

What do you think?

Do you share Haley’s concerns that a nerve agent attack "could be used here in New York"? Should the U.S. impose additional sanctions on Moscow or expel diplomats? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

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(Photo Credit: aprott / iStock)