President of the European Council Donald Tusk announced on Wednesday 14 March that he was prepared to add the question of the nerve gas poisoning in the United Kingdom of a former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, probably by Russia (see EUROPE 11980), to the agenda of the European summit next week.
At a press conference after a meeting in Helsinki with Finland's Prime Minister Julia Sipila he said that in Finland, the focus of the fight against hybrid threats, there is no need to explain the importance of close cooperation between Europeans and Americans. He added that at a time when a third body is spreading its fake news, interfering in Europe's elections and attacking people on European territory with nerve gas, the response must not be transatlantic spats (referring to the current trade disputes), but transatlantic unity (see other article). Tusk said Europe needed to show unequivocal solidarity with London and Theresa May, adding that it must be clear that the EU's solidarity and unity in this context were the EU's key duty.
Quizzed about possible sanctions against Russia, Tusk added that the European summit had to wait for suggestions from London before deciding on the common reaction to this brutal attack, adding that the leaders would also discuss the "hybrid war" against the EU. (CG)