Russian ambassadors to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia mysteriously summoned to foreign ministries amid diplomatic spat
Meetings come after EU agreed Kremlin 'was 'likely' responsible for the attack on Sergei Skripal
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The Russian ambassadors to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have been summoned to the foreign ministries of those countries, according to Russian media.
The RIA news agency cited a spokesman for the Russian embassy to Poland, and a representative of the embassy in Lithuania. TASS referred to unnamed diplomatic sources. The agencies did not give a reason for the summoning.
All four countries are members of the EU. The bloc recently recalled its ambassador to Moscow “for consultations” in the wake of the Sergei Skripal poisoning, after EU leaders said there was “no plausible alternative explanation” for the use of novichok nerve agent in Salisbury other than its deployment by the Russian government.
Along with Ireland and France, the four were thought to be considering the expulsion of Russian diplomats.
The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the attack earlier this month, which also left a police officer seriously ill and forced a number of other bystanders to seek treatment.
Last week in a joint statement, the European Council said it “agrees with the UK government’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible”.
“Member states will coordinate on the consequences to be drawn in the light of the answers provided by the Russian authorities. The European Union will remain closely focused on this issue and its implications,” it added.
Theresa May’s spokesman said on Monday morning that other countries’ actions towards Russia following the attack were a matter for them, but welcomed the support shown at last week’s summit.
The UK has expelled a number of Russian diplomats. A plane carrying more than 20 diplomats and their families left Stansted last week after Ms May said they were “undeclared intelligence officers”.
Additional reporting by agencies
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