Western countries can go to improve relations with Moscow after admitting guilt

The US Department of State believes that Western countries can improve relations with Moscow only if the Russian authorities agree to take responsibility for the ex-GRU officer Sergey Skrypal and his daughter Yulia poisoning in the UK, “Voice of America".

“Opportunities for dialogue with the Russian government remain open,” Heather Nauert said during a State Department briefing on Tuesday. “But if Russia wants to improve relations, it must first accept responsibility for this attack and abandon its irresponsible and aggressive behavior.”

The representative of the State Department clarified that the decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats from the United States and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle was taken personally by President Trump after consulting with cabinet ministers. Three federal agencies, including the State Department and the FBI, worked for three weeks to work out a response to the Salisbury incident.

Heather Neuert recalled that the UK’s decision, the first announced about the expulsion of Russian diplomats, have already joined the 25 states. On Tuesday, it became known that representatives of the Russian Federation will also send NATO. In total, the Russian diplomat should return 151 to his homeland.

In turn, at a press briefing on Tuesday, White House spokesman Sarah Huckabi Sanders reiterated that “the United States is open to forging closer relations with Russia, but the Russian government should be aware of the serious consequences of its destabilizing actions” and improving relations is possible only if "the Russian government changes its behavior."

“We are certainly putting pressure on Russia. We are, of course, encouraging and working with our allies and partners on this issue, and I think you've seen an unprecedented number of countries step up and support these United States efforts,” the White House spokeswoman said.

Recall, the former GRU officer Sergey Skripal and his daughter Julia were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury on March 4. They were taken to the hospital in critical condition, they are still in a coma, doctors estimate their condition as consistently severe. The police found that they were poisoned by a nerve agent. About 20 people were poisoned, including the policeman who first visited the scene and the house of Skripal. On the fact of poisoning a case of attempted murder.

In Russia, Skripal in 2006 year was convicted of espionage in favor of British intelligence MI6. In 2010, he was exchanged for Russian intelligence agents uncovered in the United States.

After investigating, Britain came to the conclusion that the nerve agent of the new generation of the group called “Rookie” was used for poisoning. Since no country other than Russia had access to this substance, London declared that Russia was most likely responsible for the attempt. Prime Minister Teresa May ultimately demanded an explanation from Moscow.

The authorities rejected the suspicion of involvement in the crime and refused to respond to the ultimatum, demanding to provide official information about the case.

Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in the United States is polling Twitter: which US consulate to close in Russia. Read and watch how people vote on this.