On March 4, a former Russian spy by the name of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a park bench and were taken to the hospital in critical condition. The Skripals had been poisoned with a military-grade Russian nerve agent. The substance is a part of the chemical group known as Novichok, and is extremely lethal. Traces of the poison were found at a pizza parlor and pub the Skripals had visited.

   British Prime Minister Theresa May was quick to blame and condemn Russia for the attack in an unusually brazen address to Parliament. May concluded her address by saying that the Russian ambassador had been summoned and is asked to provide an explanation. If there was no response by the end of the day, March 12th, May would “conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom” (CNN). It is clear that the UK has no plan to tolerate the attack.

   Russia has continuously denied these claims, while in the meantime allies of the UK have condemned the country for their supposed actions. Germany, France, and the United States issued a joint statement with Britain that concluded there was no alternative for the Skripals’ poisoning, and that the attack has been prefaced by “a pattern of earlier irresponsible Russian behavior.” Furthermore, the statement read that Russia’s inaction and uncooperative attitude are proof of their guilt. According to The Guardian, Gavin Williamson, the defense secretary of the UK, said in a speech in Bristol that the Russian attack is “atrocious and outrageous,” and that the accused country is “ripping up the international rulebook.” Foreign secretary Boris Johnson spoke to the BBC.

   “There is something in that smug, sarcastic response that we’ve heard that indicates their fundamental guilt. They want to simultaneously deny it, yet at the same time to glory in it.” said Johnson.

   Johnson then shared his thoughts in the Washington Post: “The common thread that joins the poisonings in Salisbury with the annexation of Crimea, the cyber-attacks in Ukraine, the hacking of Germany’s parliament and Russian interference in foreign elections is the Kremlin’s reckless defiance of essential international rules.” said Johnson.

   In a act of opposition towards Russia, President Donald Trump has filed sanctions against the country and told the press that he is taking the attack very seriously. These sanctions represent the widest set of US punitive measures since President Trump took office. Russia’s alleged actions have had serious consequences, and has increased tensions between many countries.