March 15, 2018

France undermined Theresa May’s attempts to build a consensus for punitive action against Russia last night by accusing her of punishing the regime prematurely.

President Macron’s spokesman derided Mrs May’s decision to act against Moscow after the Salisbury poisonings as “fantasy politics”. Shortly after the prime minister announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats and the suspension of bilateral talks, Benjamin Griveaux told a news conference in Paris: “Once the elements are proven then the time will come for decisions to be made.” He said that the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia was a “serious act” on a strategic ally but France would await evidence of Russian involvement before taking a position.

The French reaction came as Britain drew up plans to seize Russian property as part of a second wave of measures against Moscow if President Putin escalates the conflict. Ministers are braced for retaliation from Russia after Mrs May announced the largest expulsion of Russian diplomats since 1985. Last night Moscow accused Britain of making the deadly nerve agent novichok itself.

Read more:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/france-defies-may-over-russia-37b27qd2s