Trump to UK prime minister: Russia must answer for chemical attack

President Trump told British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday that Moscow needs to provide “unambiguous answers” about the recent poisoning of an ex-spy in the U.K., which is believed to have been carried out by Russia, the White House said.

Trump and May agreed during a call about the need for consequences for whoever carried out the poisoning of the former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter last week, according to an administration readout.

Trump also told May the U.S. is willing to provide any assistance to aid the U.K.’s investigation of the attack. 

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May said on Monday it was “highly likely” that Russia was behind the chemical attack, based on the information produced by the investigation.

She has said that Russia must provide an explanation for the poisoning by the end of Tuesday or she will conclude that Russia acted unlawfully against the U.K.

Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he believes May’s accusation that Russia was behind the attack.

“It sounds to me like it would be Russia based on all the evidence they have,” Trump said. “It sounds to me like they believe it was Russia and I would certainly take that finding as fact.”

He noted that, as soon as all the facts are gathered, the U.S. will condemn “Russia or whoever it may be.”

A few hours before being dismissed from his post on Tuesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the attack appeared to have come from Russia.