Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, said allegations in relation to the Skripal poisonings are evidence of a "clear anti-Russian campaign, the like of which we have not seen in the world for a long time in terms of its scale and lack of principles".

A Russian request for a meeting with Boris Johnson to discuss the nerve agent attack on former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia has been dismissed as a "diversionary tactic" by the UK.

Sergei Skripal, the Russian ex-spy poisoned with a nerve agent, is no longer critically ill, according to doctors.

It is beyond reasonable doubt that Russia was behind the Salisbury attack, UK Security Minister Ben Wallace insisted as Moscow stepped up efforts to undermine the UK's case.

The current spat between the UK and Russia is like a game of poker. At first sight, Britain appears to be playing a strong hand, convincing its allies — Ireland included — that the Russian government is behind the attempted assassination of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Russia has said that a relative of Salisbury poisoning victims Sergei and Yulia Skripal is planning to visit them in hospital.

Britain has rejected a Russian call for it to be involved in the investigation into the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused Boris Johnson of "exaggeration" over the evidence that Russia was to blame for the Salisbury poisoning.

Senior Russian security officials have launched diatribes at the West, accusing it of fomenting a new Cold War in a bid to retain waning influence in global affairs.

The Labour party in the UK has accused the British Government of rushing to blame Vladimir Putin for the Salisbury nerve agent attack, after scientists at Porton Down said they had not verified that the substance came from Russia.

Russia's foreign minister has accused the UK of "putting all decency aside" over its claims that Moscow is to blame for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

The Bishop of Salisbury has described the Salisbury poisoning as an "act of violation" in his Easter sermon.

The Russian foreign ministry has ordered Britain to reduce the number of diplomats in Moscow down to the same amount that Russia has in London as the row over the attempted assassination of a Russian spy in Salisbury continues.

Latest: Yulia Skripal is "improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition. Her condition is now stable".

Latest: Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance will expel seven staff from the Russian mission.

Decontamination of sites affected by the Salisbury spy poisoning incident is expected to take "weeks or months" as the local authority admits the long-term health effects are still unknown.

Western nations have banded together to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats they accused of being spies, punishing Moscow for its alleged poisoning of an ex-intelligence officer in Britain.

The Kremlin has denied a claim that poisoned former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal wrote to Vladimir Putin asking to be pardoned and to be able to visit his home country.

Hundreds of diners and pub-goers have been offered compensation for dry-clean only clothing that may have come into contact with the nerve agent used to attack Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

Poisoned former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal wrote to Vladimir Putin asking to be pardoned and to be able to visit his home country, a friend has said.

A judge has given doctors permission to take blood samples from Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia so that tests can be carried out by chemical weapons experts, following a hearing in a specialist court.

Jeremy Corbyn has said he would still do business with Vladimir Putin despite "all fingers" pointing towards Russia being responsible for the Salisbury spy incident.

Leaders of Britain, the US, Germany and France have issued a joint statement blaming Russia for the Salisbury poison attack.

Latest: Britain has asked the international chemical weapons watchdog to verify its findings that Moscow is behind the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Latest: Russia will refuse to meet Theresa May's midnight deadline unless Britain agrees to send Moscow samples of the nerve agent used to poison Sergei Skripal.

Hundreds of people in Salisbury in the UK have been told to wash their clothes and possessions.

Russia's foreign minister has said Moscow could help Britain investigate the poisoning in Salisbury of an ex-Russian spy, but expressed resentment of suspicions cast on his country.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has backed moves to snub the World Cup in Russia - if Kremlin links are proven in the Salisbury contamination scare.

Described by neighbours as a quiet man who dressed casually and drove a BMW, Sergei Skripal was once colonel in Russian military intelligence before he was convicted of spying for MI6.