Politics: Boris Johnson promises to 'bring Russia to heel' following the alleged poisoning of Sergei Skripal

The UK foreign secretary accuses Putin of seeking to undermine the entire international order.

• UK Foreign secretary calls Russia a "malign force" following the alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy on UK soil
• Boris Johnson accuses Putin's regime of undermining the entire international order.
• He says the case of Sergei Skripal has "echoes" of the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko.
• He promises to "bring Russia to heel" and says Britain may pull out of the World Cup in Russia.

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LONDON — Boris Johnson has called Russia a "malign" force and promised that it will be "brought to heel" following the alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy on British soil.

Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, who is in her 30s, were found collapsed on a bench at a shopping centre in Salisbury, south England, on Sunday. Both are in critical condition at a nearby hospital.

"Russia is in many respects a malign and disruptive force," Johnson told MPs as he described the alleged poisoning of Skripal as a potential "act of war."

The UK foreign secretary said the Skripal case had "echoes" of the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 and promised a "robust" response if a link is found to Moscow in this case.

"I can reassure the House that should evidence emerge that implies state responsibility then her majesty's government will respond appropriately and robustly," Johnson told MPs in the House of Commons.

He added: "I say to governments around the world that no attempt to take innocent lives on our soil will go unpunished."

In a forthright attack on Russia, Johnson accused the regime led by President Putin of undermining Western democracy.

"This house has profound differences with Russia," he said.

"By annexing Crimea in 2014 and igniting the flames of conflict... and by threatening western democracies including interfering in their elections...

"Russia has challenged fundamental basis of international order."

He said the UK should consider pulling out of the upcoming World Cup in Russia.

"It will be very difficult to see whether UK representation at that event can go ahead," Johnson said.

Mark Rowley, Assistant Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police, confirmed that the country's counterterrorism officers were working with Wiltshire Police to establish exactly what happened.

He told the BBC's "Today" radio programme on Tuesday: "It's a very unusual case and the critical thing is to get to the bottom of what's causing his illness as quickly as possible.

"If you look back at other cases like [Alexander] Litvinenko, if necessary we will bring that investigation into the counterterrorism network."

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, a spokesperson for prime minister Theresa May said she would not be commenting on the case while police were investigating.

"All relevant departments including number 10 are being kept up to date on developments," they said.

"This is an ongoing investigation. I'm not going to comment on an ongoing investigation. These are operational matters for the police. The police need to be able to get on with their work."

The UK foreign secretary accuses Putin of seeking to undermine the entire international order. Read Full Story