President Donald Trump spoke on the phone Tuesday with United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May, and both leaders agreed Russia must account for how a chemical weapon it developed was used in a recent attack on British soil.
According to the White House's readout of the call, Trump expressed solidarity with the U.K. and agreed that Russia must explain how its nerve agent came to be used in the attack.
"President Trump agreed with Prime Minister May that the Government of the Russian Federation must provide unambiguous answers regarding how this chemical weapon, developed in Russia, came to be used in the United Kingdom," the readout states. "The two leaders agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms."
The target was a former officer in the Russian Army, who spied for the U.K. and became a British citizen after a spy swap with Russia in 2010, along his daughter. Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious on March 4 in Salisbury, reportedly from a Novichok nerve agent created by the Russian government.
Russia has denied that it is behind the attack and asked the U.K. for a sample of the agent to analyze.
Trump told May that the U.S. "stands in solidarity" with the U.K.
"President Trump stated the United States stands in solidarity with its closest ally and is ready to provide any assistance the United Kingdom requests for its investigation," the readout states.
May plans to lay out details in the House of Commons Wednesday to take action against Russia if it has not offered an adequate explanation for how its weapon was used on British soil. The prime minister's office reportedly said Trump told May the U.S. is "with the U.K. all the way."
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump told reporters the evidence indicated Russia was behind the attack and that he would call May to discuss it.