EU Supports Britain's Stance Against Russia in Former Spy Case

Reports indicate that the European Union has summoned its ambassador in Moscow in a symbolic move to support Britain's position against Russia. Britain has accused Russia of being involved in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy, and his daughter Yulia, labeling it as a 'chemical weapon attack on British soil.' Moscow denies these allegations. According to Reuters, in a joint statement by EU member state leaders on Thursday, March 22, they agreed with Britain's assessment that Russia is likely responsible for the poisoning of the former spy and that there is no other acceptable explanation. During the EU summit in Brussels, which continued into the early hours of Friday, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, raised the issue of additional punitive measures against Russia in response to the attack on Skripal and his daughter, stating that the EU must act in unity. Merkel said at the end of the first day of the summit: 'We are determined to respond collectively, but we will likely do so through additional measures.' Reuters reports that Marcus Ederer, the EU ambassador in Moscow, will be summoned for 'consultations' for one month. The President of Lithuania has announced that her country is ready to expel Russian diplomats, and Poland and Baltic states are also likely prepared to take similar actions. Theresa May, the Prime Minister of Britain, previously ordered the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in response to the attack on the former spy and his daughter. Meanwhile, Russia has announced that it will retaliate by expelling 23 British diplomats. Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious in a shopping center in Salisbury, southern Britain, in mid-March. They were transferred to the hospital and are still in intensive care. Sergei Skripal, 66, was previously an officer in the Russian military's security service. He was arrested in December 2004 and sentenced to prison for transferring secret information to Britain and treason; he was granted asylum in Britain in 2010 during a spy swap with the United States and has lived in the country for years.