Russian embassy asks for meeting with Boris Johnson over 'situation in Salisbury'

Request comes as Sergei and Yulia Skripal appear to have made remarkable recovery from nerve agent attack

The Russian embassy in London has requested a meeting between its envoy Alexander Yakovenko and Boris Johnson, to discuss the “situation in Salisbury”.

“We hope for a constructive response from the British side and are counting on such a meeting in the very nearest future,” a spokesperson for the embassy said, according to Russia’s RIA news agency.

The request comes as Sergei and Yulia Skripal appear to have made a remarkable recovery after being attacked using a nerve agent in Salisbury last month.

The former MI6 spy and his daughter may soon be in a position to reveal the chain and time of events leading up to their poisoning, and who may have carried out it out.

Responding to the meeting request, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: “It’s Russia’s response that has been unsatisfactory. It’s over three weeks since we asked Russia to engage constructively and answer a number of questions relating to the attempted assassinations of Mr Skripal and his daughter.

“Now, after failing in their attempts in the UN and international chemical weapons watchdog this week and with the victims’ condition improving, they seem to be pursuing a different diversionary tactic.

“We will of course consider their request and respond in due course.”

Earlier this week, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations warned Britain it was “playing with fire” over its response to the attack.

“Couldn’t you come up with a better fake story?” he said, adding: “We have told our British colleagues that you’re playing with fire and you’ll be sorry.”

Theresa May says it is “highly likely” Moscow was behind the incident. The UK, the US and other allies in the West have expelled more than 150 Russian diplomats in response.

Yulia Skripal, who had issued a public statement through the police saying she “woke up a week ago and am glad my strength is growing daily”, will be questioned before her father unless his condition improves dramatically.

Ms Skripal supposedly spoke on the telephone with her cousin Viktoria in Moscow who was due to visit her in hospital. During the call Yulia told Viktoria she may not be given a visa, and yesterday the UK authorities confirmed that the visa application has been refused.

This led to an immediate charge of further cover-up by Russian officials who have already accused the UK of carrying out the attack.