Moscow, March 14(Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday the punitive measures against Russia announced by the British government were unprecedentedly gross provocation.
In a statement posted on the official website, the Foreign Ministry harshly condemned the measures announced by British Prime Minister Theresa May over Moscow's alleged involvement in poisoning ex-spy Sergei Skripal, vowing a quick response to the hostile moves by Britain.
"We consider the statement by the UK Prime Minister Theresa May in the parliament on March 14 about 'punitive' measures against Russia under a false pretext of the alleged involvement in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter as an unprecedentedly gross provocation that undermines the foundations of a normal interstate relationship between our countries," said the statement.
By using unilateral and non-transparent methods of probing this incident, "British authorities once again tried to launch a groundless anti-Russian campaign," the statement added.
The ministry stated that it was unacceptable and reproachful that the British government aims to pursue its political goals by announcing a whole set of hostile measures, including the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from the country.
"Of course, our retaliatory measures won't be long in coming," the statement said.
The Russian official response came after Prime Minister May announced Wednesday a series of measures against Russia over its failure to respond to a demand by the British government to explain how a Russian--made nerve agent was used in a recent attack at Skripal.
These measures include the expulsion of 23 diplomats in a week, the freezing of Russian state assets in the UK, the suspension of all planned high level bilateral contacts and the boycott by Ministers and Royal Family to attend the Fifa World Cup in Russia.
Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia, a Russian citizen, were found unconscious on a bench at a shopping center in the district of Salisbury, England, on March 5. They remain in critical condition in hospital, according to reports.