Messages to Russian president from US and EU leaders called ‘nauseating’ and ‘an insult’
Donald Trump and Jean-Claude Juncker have broken ranks with western disapproval for Vladimir Putin, issuing their congratulations to the Russian leader for his electoral success even as diplomats were flown out of the UK in retribution for the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
The two leaders were heavily criticised on Tuesday for their overtures to Moscow, which broke a taboo among western leaders in appearing to endorse the Russian leader’s re-election to a fourth term in power.
The leader of the Conservative party in the European parliament, Ashley Fox, described a letter from Juncker, president of the European commission, as “disgraceful”, while Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s representative in Brexit talks, tweeted: “This is no time for congratulations.”
