Russian spy network in tatters as Britain’s allies boot out over 100 spies
THERESA May last night told Russia its nerve agent attack on Salisbury has “spectacularly backfired” after Britain’s allies booted out more than 116 of its spies.
The unprecedented punishment action around the globe yesterday left Vladimir Putin’s global espionage network in tatters.
Stunning the Kremlin, 18 of Britain’s closest allies expelled the Russian spooks - many masquerading as normal diplomats – in a carefully coordinated action.
America, Canada, Australia and Ukraine joined 20 European states including France, Germany and Spain after the EU declared the Kremlin was behind the sickening assassination attempt on ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia.
US President Donald Trump hit Moscow the hardest by ejecting 60, as well as shutting down its consulate in Seattle.
Delighted Theresa May told MPs it amounted to “the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history”.
And more countries will follow with their own expulsions as the week goes on, including Ireland.
The PM also said to the Commons: “If the Kremlin’s goal is to intimidate and divide the Western alliance then their efforts have spectacularly backfired.
“Today’s actions by our allies clearly demonstrate that we all stand shoulder to shoulder in sending the strongest signal to the Kremlin that Russia cannot continue to flout international law and threaten our security.”
The major success comes after a major 10 day diplomatic offensive to lobby allies by the PM, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and National Security Advisor Sir Mark Sedwill.
Also revealing fresh MI6 intelligence yesterday, Mrs May also said she had briefed fellow world leaders on how Russia has investigated ways of delivering Novichok over the last decade, “probably for purposes of assassination”.
The PM also disclosed that the Skripals are still critically ill and “may never recover fully” from their exposure to the deadly nerve agent.
Both still in a coma in hospital and doctors say they may be disabled or permanently brain damaged by their ordeal.
The Kremlin was left reeling last night at the strength of the Western world’s response.
A furious Russian foreign ministry official accused the ally nations of “blindly following the principle of Euro-Atlantic solidarity in violation of common sense, norms of civilised international dialogue and international law”.
President Putin’s spokesman said he would hit back personally.
Announcing its action, the White house said: “With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences.
“The United States stands ready to cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia, but this can only happen with a change in the Russian government’s behaviour.”
The US also shut down a Russian consulate in Seattle due to its proximity to a submarine base and Boeing aircraft facility.
Forty-eight diplomats will be forced to return home from the Russian Embassy in Washington.
In addition, 12 spies were expelled by the US from the Russian Mission to the United Nations, in New York.
America’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said: “The president’s decision today shows that Russia’s actions have consequences.
“Beyond Russia’s destabilising behaviour across the world…it has now used a chemical weapon within the borders of one of our closest allies.
“Today, the United States and many of our friends are sending a clear message that we will not stand for Russia’s misconduct.”
Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen said of his country’s decision to expel two diplomats: “Russia has gone too far.
“An assassination attempt in a European city with a Russian nerve agent is completely unacceptable. The UK has our full support.”
EU Council president Donald Tusk also revealed EU foreign ministers are drawing up more punishment action on Russia in time for the next leaders summit in June, which could extra economic sanctions.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson added: “The best way to deal with an act of aggression is to show total unity.”
“The world’s patience is wearing thin with Putin”
THE DEFENCE Secretary said the world was united behind Britain's stance over the Sergei Skripal poisoning and accused Russia of trying to divide us from our allies.
Gavin Williamson said the world's patience was now wearing thin with Putin after the attack on the former KGB spy and his daughter in Salisbury.
He told reporters during a visit to Estonia: “What President Putin wishes to do is to divide Britain from its allies to say that we stand alone.
"The fact that right across the NATO alliance, right across the European Union, nations have stood up in support of the United Kingdom ... I actually think that is the very best response that we could have."
The Cabinet minister, who told Russia to “go away and shut up” last week, added: "Their (the Kremlin's) intention, their aim, is to divide - and what we are seeing is the world uniting behind the British stance.
“And that in itself is a great victory and sends an exceptionally powerful message to the Kremlin and President Putin."
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