Russia has called a United Nations Security Council meeting for Thursday as it seeks to undermine Britain's case that it was responsible for the poisoning of a Russian former spy.
Moscow, emboldened after the UK was forced to withdraw a claim that its scientists had pinned the blame on Russia for the attack, will attempt to further embarrass Britain in front of its international allies.
A month after former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in the British town of Salisbury, the United Kingdom and Russia remain locked in battle over who to blame.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said it was "highly likely" the attack was ordered by the Russian government, but the Kremlin has repeatedly denied the accusation. At one point, the Russians suggested the United Kingdom itself might have been involved in the poisoning.
A proposal from Moscow to conduct an investigation jointly with the UK was voted down by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on Wednesday. The OPCW is already carrying out its own investigation at the UK's request, and expects to receive the results of its analysis within a week.
Skripal, 66 and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain in hospital. Sergei Skripal is described as in a critical but stable condition according to Salisbury District hospital. Yulia Skripal is said to have responded welll to treatment and is out of danger. UK experts believe the pair were poisoned with a Russian-made nerve agent, Novichok.
The Times of London reported on Thursday that UK security services have pinpointed the location of the Russian laboratory which manufactured the nerve agent, citing unnamed sources.
A meeting on Thursday would be the second time the Security Council has met to discuss the poisoning. In the previous meeting on March 15, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haleyblasted the Russian government for the attack and called for a firm international response.
