Britain, Germany, France and the US issues a rare joint statement condemning Russia

Leaders of Britain, Germany, France and the US have issued a joint statement condemning and blaming Russia for the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy.

In a rare joint statement, US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May say “there is no plausible alternative explanation” to Russian responsibility in the March 4 attack in England.

The united statement from Theresa May, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, released by Downing Street, condemns the Salisbury, England attack on Sergei Skripal as “an assault on UK sovereignty”.

I’ve spoken with the prime minister and we are in discussions. A very sad situation. It certainly looks like the Russians were behind it. Something that should never, ever happen, and we’re taking it very seriously, as I think are many others, US President Donald Trump told reporters.

The four leaders said they “abhor the attack that took place against Sergei and Yulia Skripal”.

A British police officer who was also exposed in the attack remains seriously ill, and the lives of many innocent British citizens have been threatened” the statement read.

We express our sympathies to them all, and our admiration for the UK police and emergency services for their courageous response.

It is an assault on UK sovereignty and any such use by a state party is a clear violation of the chemical weapons convention and a breach of international law.

It threatens the security of us all. The United Kingdom thoroughly briefed its allies that it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for the attack.

We share the UK assessment that there is no plausible alternative explanation, and note that Russia’s failure to address the legitimate request by the UK government further underlines its responsibility.”

They say Russia’s failure to respond to Britain’s “legitimate request” for an explanation “further underlines its responsibility.”