WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that he believes the British government’s theory that Russia was likely responsible for the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter in England earlier this month.
“It sounds to me like it would be Russia based on all the evidence they have,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “It sounds to me like they believe it was Russia and I would certainly take that finding as fact.”
Trump added: “As soon as we get the facts straight, if we agree with them, we will condemn Russia or whoever it may be.”
Trump also said he would speak to UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday about the incident. May said Monday that it was is “highly likely” Russia was to blame for the attack.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a bench in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. UK authorities believe the pair were targeted with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent. The pair remain in critical condition.
Trump’s remarks to reporters Tuesday came on the heels of the news that he had fired US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
On Monday, Tillerson issued a harsh condemnation of Russia over the poisoning of Skripal. Tillerson’s remarks went further than the White House’s response earlier in the day, which had stopped short of pinning blame for the attack on Moscow.
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