At a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia went on the attack over Britain's accusations that Russia ordered the use of a nerve agent in the attempted murder of a former Russian double agent in Salisbury, England.
Russia requested the council's assembly to discuss the allegations.
In a speech to the 15-member council, Nebenzia said, "We have told our British colleagues that 'you're playing with fire and you'll be sorry'."
Speaking of the nerve agent used, Nebenzia added, "Novichok is not copyrighted by Russia in spite of the obviously Russian name."
British Prime Minister Theresa May insists that it was "highly likely" that the Russian government was behind the assassination attempt on the former spy. Following the attack, the U.K. expelled nearly two dozen Russian diplomats from their country. Russia then expelled the same number of British diplomats from their country.
President Trump soon followed suit, kicking 60 Russian diplomats out of America. Russia then booted out the same number of American diplomats from their own country.
The U.S. also closed the Russian consulate in Seattle. Russia then closed the American consulate in St. Petersburg.
Nebenzia blamed the U.K. for other countries turning against them, saying, "You started a wave that even reached New York."
Prior to the start of the U.N. meeting, a Russian deputy ambassador reportedly "warned of a moment of truth but also the spreading of lies."
In response, UK Ambassador Karen Pierce said, "Bring it on."
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Wednesday at a summit with Turkey and Iran. In reference to the nerve agent scandal, he said, "We are not expecting anything but common sense to prevail; international relations will not tolerate the recent damage done."
The former spy attacked in Great Britain was identified as Russian defector Col. Sergei Skripal, who remains in critical condition roughly a month after the incident. His 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, was also poisoned and spoke publicly about the ordeal for the first time on Thursday.
She expressed gratitude in a statement, saying "I woke up over a week ago and am glad to say my strength is growing daily. I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received."
Breck Dumas
