Trump will soon meet Putin but, like the leaders of the various European countries, he is ready to expel Moscow diplomats from the United States after the nerve gas affair used to eliminate former Russian spy Serghei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury. Bloomberg reports that the decision may not be final. Trump would agree with his advisors' recommendations and the expulsions could be announced on Monday, when the moves of other EU countries are expected, but Trump wants to be sure that European allies also take similar measures. The White House does not rule out anything but for now denies announcements: "the president is always considering options to call Russia back to its responsibility in response to its malicious activities but we have no announcements at this time," noted Ray Shah, spokesman for the presidency. reaffirming solidarity with London in condemning "the infamous action of Russia".
The recommendations for the US response were discussed by Trump advisors last Wednesday and arrived at the Oval Office on Friday, when Trump reportedly spoke to US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Trade Secretary Wilbur Ross. , Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Pentagon Chief James Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and outgoing National Security Advisor HR McMaster. Everyone seems to agree to remain aligned with the European allies, after Washington had already shared a harsh common communiqué against Moscow with London, Paris and Berlin. And yesterday the leaders of the 28 EU countries agreed with Theresa May that Russia remains the main suspect behind the Salisbury attack and that "there is no other possible explanation", deciding to call back the EU ambassador for consultations. in Moscow.
The first measures "are expected on Monday at the national level", revealed the President of the European Council Donald Tusk. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite has already announced that in the next few days she will start the expulsion of Russian diplomats, along the lines of London. At least a dozen other countries said they were ready to launch bilateral measures. The first to move should be Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Ireland. Berlin and Paris will also soon adopt "proportionate measures". At this point Trump cannot remain inactive, even if he seeks dialogue with Putin at all costs. Meanwhile, Vladimir Timoshkov revealed that Skripal, of whom he was a schoolmate, had written a letter to Putin asking to be forgiven and to be allowed to return home. He did not consider himself a traitor because he had sworn allegiance to the USSR and not to Russia, he explained. But the Kremlin denies ever receiving the letter.