France STANDS WITH Britain: Paris promises ‘co-ordinated response’ to Russian spy attack

British Prime Minister Theresa May said London was expelling 23 Russian diplomats after the Kremlin refused to give an explanation for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former double agent, and his daughter with the Soviet-made nerve agent Novichok on March 4.

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that told reporters: “In the coming hours France will be in contact at the highest level with the British authorities to coordinate our response.”

He added the circumstances were of an “extremely grave” character.

The minister said: “The security of one of our main allies is at stake, as is the security of France and Europe because this is the first time that a lethal nerve agent developed in secret is used [in an attack].”

He said the use of the controversial chemical went against international rules against chemical weapons proliferation.

However, Paris’ subdued reaction to the attack since it came to light that Novichok had been used on Mr Skripal has not gone unnoticed.

Unlike Germany and the United States, French officials declined earlier this week to explicitly blame Russia for the attack, with government spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux saying on Wednesday that it was too early for Paris to decide what action should be taken and that a decision would be made once Russian involvement was proven.

France, however, hardened its position on the Russian scandal on Thursday morning, after finally agreeing with Britain that Russia had orchestrated the attack.

President Emmanuel Macron’s office said in a statement: “Since the start of the week, the United Kingdom has kept France closely informed of the evidence gathered by British investigators and of elements demonstrating Russia’s responsibility in the attack.

“France shares Britain’s assessment that there is no other plausible explanation and reiterates its solidarity with its ally… [Mr Macron and Mrs May] condemn all use of chemical weapons and agree on the importance of European and transatlantic unity [in response to the attack].”

Mrs May also announced earlier this week the potential freezing of Russian state assets which pose a security threat, new laws to counter hostile state activity and a British officials and royal family boycott of the upcoming Russia-hosted World Cup.