Updated 17:45

Russia has once again denied any involvement in the poisoning of former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in March.

It comes after the leaders of France, Germany, the US and Canada announced their 'full confidence' in the British government's allegation that the two suspects in the Salisbury investigation were Russian intelligence officers.

At a meeting of the UN Security Council this evening, the UK laid out its case against the suspects – and reiterated its belief that the suspects are officers from the Russian GRU, military intelligence agency.

However, in response, the Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya accused the UK of ‘repeating the same lies’ in an attempt to “unleash a disgusting anti-Russian hysteria.”

“We hoped today we'd hear something convincing that sheds light on this mysterious incident - unfortunately our expectations were not met once again,” he said.

He said the Russian Federation “categorically rejects all unfounded accusations regarding its involvement in poisoning with toxic chemicals in Salisbury.”

“Half a year later, it is still not clear why Russia would want to poison the Skripals and why they would do it in such a strange sophisticated and illogical way,” he said.

Russia's United Nations Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya addresses the UN Security Council meeting, 06-09-2018. Image: AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

Salisbury charges

Yesterday, British officials named Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov as the suspects believed to behind the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.

Police said the names of the two men are believed to be aliases, with Prime Minister Theresa May later alleging that the pair are officers with the Russian Military Intelligence Service (GRU).

Both men face several charges - including conspiracy to murder and attempted murder - and a European Arrest Warrant has been issued.

Russia, which has repeatedly denied any responsibility for the attack, claimed the two names 'meant nothing' to them.

In a statement today, French, German, US, Canadian and British leaders 'reiterated their outrage' at the Salisbury attack.

They call on Russia to provide 'full disclosure' of its Novichok nerve agent programme.

The leaders state: "We have full confidence in the British assessment that the two suspects were officers from the Russian military intelligence service, also known as the GRU, and that this operation was almost certainly approved at a senior government level.

"We have already taken action together to disrupt the activities of the GRU through the largest ever collective expulsion of undeclared intelligence officers."

The statement adds: "Yesterday’s announcement further strengthens our intent to continue to disrupt together the hostile activities of foreign intelligence networks on our territories, uphold the prohibition of chemical weapons, protect our citizens and defend ourselves from all forms of malign state activity directed against us and our societies."

The statement was released as the UK Ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce updated members of the UN Security Council on the investigation.

She said that despite the diplomatic tensions that have sprung up with Russia, the UK continues to “to hold out hope that we will once again enjoy a strong partnership with the government of this great nation.”

She warned however, that the UK will “respond robustly when our security is threatened, when the lives of our citizens are endangered, and when the norms and rules of international law, and the international system, are flouted in such a brazen and reckless manner.”

She said the UK and its allies will continue to “disrupt the hostile activities of foreign intelligence networks on our territories.”

“We will uphold the prohibition of chemical weapons,” she said. “We will protect our citizens. And we will defend ourselves from all forms of malign state activity directed against us and our societies.”

She began her address to the council by outlining how police believe the crime was carried out in Salisbury on March 4th.

“The evidence reveals the following,” she said. “It shows the arrival of two individuals travelling under the name of Alexander Petrov and Ruslam Boshirov to the UK from Russia.”

“CCTV and other evidence records their travel to and from Salisbury and crucially there are images which clearly place them in the vicinity of the Skripal’s house at 2:30am on Sunday March 4th.

“This was moments before the attack took place which involved placing the substance on the Skripal’s front door handle.

“Further, testing of the hotel the pair stayed in in London revealed the presence of traces of the novichok substance in their hotel room.

“Based on a thorough analysis of our intelligence, the UK Government has concluded that the two individuals name by the police investigation are in fact officers from the Russian military intelligence service – also known as the GRU.

“This is a body of the Russian State.”