Outlining the UK's stance on the ongoing investigation into the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter in the town of Salisbury on March 4, Mrs. May voiced plans for the biggest expulsion of Russian diplomats from the country since the Cold War. The move comes as no surprise, Mr. Ebert told Sputnik.
"On the one hand, we heard a quite calm, rational statement that a formal, thorough investigation is underway. On the other, why bother — 'we know Russia is guilty.'"
Announcing that "Russian state was culpable of the attempted murder," May has listed a number of retaliatory measures. Mr. Ebert told Sputnik it is, "in some regards, simply a continuation of the current war being waged against Russia".
"Moscow, it seems, will always have an Achilles heel — a dead Russian émigré can always be 'found' to sow fear, confusion, and garner support for further sanctions against Russia."
READ MORE: US Had Access to Substance Allegedly Used to Poison Skripal Since 1999 – Report
In the meantime, Mr. Ebert has also questioned the timing of the alleged attack: "Why would Russia, actually Putin personally, do this right before their own presidential elections, and soon after this will host World Cup — which the West is no doubt still anxious to shut down?"
According to the expert, since May herself mused a possibility the Russian government lost control of the potentially catastrophically damaging nerve agent 'Novichok' and allowed it to get into the hands of others, the list of potential suspects needs to include Ukraine, a proven supplier of such "wares" since the break-up of the USSR".
"The bottom line is sadly it's 'business as usual'."
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik.
