US, Germany, France United in Rebuke of Russia Over UK Attack

The leaders of the U.S., Germany and France said that all evidence pointed to Russia bearing the responsibility for the poisoning of two people in England and called for an urgent explanation from President Vladimir Putin's government.

In a joint statement with the U.K. issued in Berlin Thursday, President Donald Trump, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron said they were "horrified" by the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter and that there's "no plausible alternative explanation" to Russia being responsible.

The incident, involving the first use of nerve agent in Europe since World War II, "threatens all of our security," the leaders, including Prime Minister Theresa May, said in the statement issued by the German government.

"We call on Russia to respond to all questions connected with the attack in Salisbury," particularly those relating to its Novichok program.

Ratcheting up their rhetoric, the key U.K. allies called the attack a violation of British sovereignty. Concern is heightened by earlier cases of "irresponsible Russian behavior in other areas," according to the statement.

As a member of the United Nations Security Council, Russia has a responsibility to maintain international peace and security, the four powers said.

"The U.K. has explained to its partners in detail that Russia, with a high probability, bears responsibility for this attack," according to the statement. "We share the U.K.'s assessment that there is no plausible alternative explanation."