Germany’s defense minister has vowed ‘consequences’ over a nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal that the UK blames on Russia. She also tied the attack to the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Russia must cooperate in an investigation into the nerve agent used against an ex-spy on UK soil, Germany’s defense minister said Thursday.
The nerve agent attack was a “serious violation of international agreements on chemical weapons,” Ursula von der Leyen told Morgen Magazin, a joint breakfast show by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
Britain has said it was “highly likely” Moscow was behind the attack, or that it had “lost control” of the military-grade nerve agent used against ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia nearly two weeks ago. The two remain in critical condition.
“It’s the very first time since World War II that a horrible chemical weapon has been used on European soil,” von der Leyen said, demanding Russia contribute to providing clarity on the incident.
Russia has denied any involvement in the nerve-agent attack, which prompted a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.
Consequences
Von der Leyen said that in addition to convening the Security Council, UN chemical weapons experts must examine the evidence.
“When we have an evaluation [from the UN], and it will come, then we must talk about consequences,” the defense minister said.
The UK on Wednesday announced a range of measures against Russia, including expelling 23 diplomats.
Moscow said it would retaliate. British actions “go way beyond the framework of basic decency,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.
However, Tom Tugendhat, a British MP and chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the House of Commons, told DW that Russia’s actions were “war-like.”
“Had [this chemical] been opened on the London Underground, for example, it would have killed hundreds of people. And to use it next to a children’s playground, where, had the children been there, it would have killed 30 or 40 children. This is a completely unacceptable, war-like act by a violent, deranged regime that is weakening and lashing out. This is a corrupt dictatorship that has to stop,” he said.
Russia has said it would cooperate in the investigation, but demanded Britain provide samples of the nerve agent. Russia wants 10 days to respond, in accordance with rules in the chemical weapons convention.
Von der Leyen also tied the UK nerve-agent attack to events in Syria, where Russia is allied with President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian regime has been accused of using banned chemical agentsagainst civilians and rebels.
“We see the Assad-allied forces using poison gas. Russia is the one the allies of Assad. That’s why it’s crucial for Russia to clarify what happened there,” von der Leyen said.