The Latest: Merkel won't announce action against Russia yet

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(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin). A bus allegedly carrying British diplomats expelled by Russia, leave the British Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 23, 2018. 23 British diplomats who were ordered out of Russia as part of the ongoing tit-for-tat over t... (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin). A bus allegedly carrying British diplomats expelled by Russia, leave the British Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 23, 2018. 23 British diplomats who were ordered out of Russia as part of the ongoing tit-for-tat over t...
(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo). British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with the media as she arrives for an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels on Friday, March 23, 2018. Leaders from the 28 European Union nations meet for a second day of an EU s... (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo). British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with the media as she arrives for an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels on Friday, March 23, 2018. Leaders from the 28 European Union nations meet for a second day of an EU s...

BRUSSELS (AP) - The Latest on international reaction to the poisoning of a former spy and his daughter in Britain (all times local):

3:35 p.m.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel won't be drawn on what additional measures European Union nations will take against Russia over the nerve agent attack on a former spy.

Asked whether Germany and France will follow Britain in expelling Russian diplomats, Merkel replied at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron Friday that the two nations will consult with others on what to do and officials will give more details "when the coordination is complete."

But she said that "we, Germany and France, agreed that such reactions in addition to the recall of the (EU) ambassador are necessary."

The 28-nation EU has recalled its ambassador from Moscow for consultations, and several countries, including Lithuania, Latvia and the Czech Republic, say they are considering expulsions.

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1:55 p.m.

European Council President Donald Tusk says EU nations will take "more steps" against Moscow over the nerve agent attack in Britain.

Building on the solidarity shown with Britain during two days of summit talks in Brussels, Tusk confirmed Friday that the 28-nation group will recall its ambassador from Moscow for consultations. And Tusk said "more steps are expected at a national level" as of Monday.

The EU said it was highly likely that Russia was behind the nerve-agent attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury and could see no other plausible explanation for it.

The March 4 attack has left the father and daughter in critical condition.

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12 p.m.

Russia's Foreign Ministry says Moscow is not aware of immediate plans by any European countries other than Britain to expel Russian diplomats.

Several European Union countries say they plan to take measures against Russia over the poisoning of a former spy in the English city of Salisbury, and some may follow the U.K.'s lead in expelling Moscow diplomats.

The EU announced on Thursday that it would recall its ambassador from Moscow for consultations over the incident.

Artyom Kozhin, a spokesman for Russia's Foreign Ministry, told a televised briefing Friday afternoon that officials there have not been approached by other countries about potential expulsions.

The UK has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats and their families, and Moscow responded by expelling 23 British diplomats, who are expected to return to the UK on Friday.

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9:30 a.m.

The president of Lithuania says EU countries plan to ramp up their actions against Russia within days over the poisoning of a former spy.

Speaking hours after the European Union said it agreed with Britain that Russia was "highly likely" to be responsible, Dalia Grybauskaite said that "from the beginning of next week, a lot of countries, we will go for our national measures."

Grybauskaite has said Lithuania may expel Russian diplomats over the attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury earlier this month.

At a Brussels summit, May shared information about why Britain is convinced Moscow was behind the nerve-agent attack.

Grybauskaite said Friday that "we got more detailed information from the prime minister May and it was very good information."

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