Russia-UK war of words escalating after poisoning

MOSCOW -- The war of words between Russia and Britain over an ex-spy's poisoning got uglier Wednesday as the U.K. foreign secretary called it vomit-inducing Russian President Vladimir Putin is rejoicing over hosting the World Cup. Russia shot back that Boris Johnson is "poisoned with venom of malice and hate."

The heated exchange came in the deepening diplomatic crisis over the March 4 poisoning of Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury. Britain maintains Russia used a military-grade nerve agent in the attack, which left the father and daughter in critical condition. Moscow has fiercely denied involvement.

Johnson on Wednesday repeated Britain's position, saying responsibility for the poisoning leads "back to the Russian state and those at the top." He added the attack had prompted "a mountain of disgust globally," and he had been pleasantly surprised "at the strength of the solidarity that there is with the U.K."

Johnson agreed with a Labour lawmaker who likened the World Cup hosted by Russia this summer to Adolf Hitler's use of the 1936 Olympics for political purposes.

"I think the comparison with 1936 is certainly right," he said. "I think it's an emetic prospect, frankly, to think of Putin glorying in this sporting event."

The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Johnson is "poisoned with venom of malice and hate, unprofessionalism and boorishness," adding "it's scary to remember that this person represents the political leadership of a nuclear power."

She said on social media Johnson's comments reflected London's efforts to cast Russia as an enemy using the most absurd reasons in order to boycott the World Cup.

"But at what price?" she said. "At the price of provocations, setting nations and people against one another and undermining international peace and stability. Isn't the price too high?"

Zakharova noted Johnson's comments about the 1936 Olympics and the World Cup were an "unacceptable and unworthy" parallel toward Russia, a "nation that lost millions of lives in fighting Nazism."

Vladimir Yermakov, deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's department for non-proliferation, scoffed at expressions of Western solidarity, saying they are meaningless in the absence of proof.

"Have they fallen under the spell of the 'Strike Back' television series?" Yermakov told a briefing with foreign diplomats, referring to the British-American action TV series featuring a plot involving the nerve agent.

Yermakov accused Britain of "hiding facts" and warned key evidence might "disappear." Casting doubt on Britain's credibility, he said experts would agree "the use of a military-grade nerve agent would lead to numerous fatalities right on the spot, but we have seen quite a different picture in Salisbury."

"Two versions are possible: Either the British government has failed to ensure protection from such terror attack or have staged it themselves, directly or indirectly," he said.

British officials have previously dismissed such Russian allegations as "nonsense."