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“Who are they giving 24 hours to?” Maria Zakharova - about the British ultimatum to Russia
The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, in the 60 Minutes program on the Russia-1 channel, commented on the UK's ultimatum addressed to Russia in connection with the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.
“After yesterday’s show in the UK Parliament, it should be clear to everyone that after what the president said [in his message to the Federal Assembly], not a single person can go out in the parliament of his country and say: “I give Russia 24 hours.” What kind of conversation is this, basically? We are talking about London, which is the capital of a nuclear power. Who do they give 24 hours to? What do they give 24 hours for?” Zakharova said.
- Former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal, convicted in Russia for treason and extradited to the UK, was found unconscious in the English city of Salisbury on March 4 with his daughter Yulia. The police said it was an attempted murder; A nerve agent was used against the Skripals.
- British Prime Minister Theresa May announced Russia's involvement in the poisoning of the Skripals; The USA supported this version. The British Foreign Office gave Russian diplomat Alexander Yakovenko 24 hours to answer questions about the Skripal case.
- Moscow refused to respond to London's ultimatum. The Russian Foreign Ministry explained this by the fact that the UK did not provide Russia with the materials of the Skripal case and did not allow the poisonous substance to be tested.
- Vladimir Putin, speaking on March 1 with a message to the Federal Assembly, spoke about new types of weapons created in Russia. Among the new developments, he said, are unmanned underwater vehicles and nuclear-powered cruise missiles.