World leaders blame Russia for nerve agent attack

The United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom believe Russia is responsible for the recent nerve agent attack against an ex-Russian spy and his daughter, according to a joint statement.

"We, the leaders of France, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, abhor the attack that took place against Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, United Kingdom, on March 4, 2018," the statement reads. "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 notes the use of the "military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia" is the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War II.

"The United Kingdom thoroughly briefed its allies that it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for the attack," according to the statement. "We share the United Kingdom's assessment that there is no plausible alternative explanation, and note that Russia's failure to address the legitimate request by the government of the United Kingdom further underlines Russia's responsibility. We call on Russia to address all questions related to the attack in Salisbury."

In particular, the statement calls on Russia to "provide full and complete disclosure" of its chemical weapons program.

"It is an assault on the United Kingdom's sovereignty and any such use by a state party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a breach of international law," the statement reads. "It threatens the security of us all."

The statement comes one day after the U.K. expelled 23 Russian diplomats and suspended high-level contact with Moscow.

Though there is no mention of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the statement notes that Russia has shown "a pattern of earlier irresponsible Russian behavior."