Kremlin:

EU Recalls Ambassador from Moscow as Required Sign of Its Solidarity with UK

TEHRAN (defapress)- Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday the European Union recalled Ambassador to Moscow Markus Ederer as required manifestation of its solidarity with the United Kingdom.

News ID: 69375

Date: 25 March 2018 - 13:55

"We understand that inside the European Union, inside NATO there are certain ‘parameters of solidarity’ and that is why the countries demonstrate this solidarity in such a way," Peskov said in a televised interview with Mir channel, TASS reported.

"Nevertheless, we pay attention to ‘artfully’ used wording. Nobody - neither the Great Britain nor Britain’s allies - chooses univocal wording so as to come forward with accusations against the Russian Federation," he noted, adding that "In our opinion, that shows absurdity of the situation."

The Kremlin Spokesman added that Russia’s attempts to assist in investigating the circumstances behind the Salisbury incident got nowhere.

"Our intentions and attempts to explain anything at different levels stumble into the wall of misunderstanding and unwillingness to listen," Peskov stated, underlining that "Simply speaking, the British Ambassador would not come to the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation when people were sitting there ready to give answers to any questions."

On Friday, March 23, the European Union recalled its Ambassador from Moscow for consultations. It was a first ever decision throughout the history of relations between the EU and Russia.

"We stand in unqualified solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this grave challenge to our shared security," the European Council said in a statement.

On March 4, former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench near the Maltings shopping center in Salisbury.

Police said they had been exposed to a nerve agent. Both are in the hospital in critical condition.

The UK accused Russia of being involved, but failed to produce any evidence.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was "highly likely" that Russia was responsible for the attack on Skripal and his daughter.

She identified the substance used in the attack as a Novichok nerve agent, developed in the Soviet Union.

PM accused Russia of "an unlawful use of force" against her country. Russia has rejected all of the United Kingdom’s accusations.