(Online Desk)

Several EU countries, along with US, are following Britain in expelling Russian diplomats in a deepening crisis over the nerve agent attack on an ex-Russian spy in England on Monday. Britain has blamed Russia, but Moscow denies responsibility. The diplomatic fallout is due to the nerve agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain.

Here are the highlights:

- Poland was the first to summon Russia's ambassador for talks, and its foreign ministry is among several other European Union planning news conferences later Monday after EU chief Donald Tusk predicted that member states would introduce measures against Moscow over its suspected role in the spy poisoning case

• Ambassador Sergei Andreev said details will be released by the Polish side later in the day. Foreign ministries in Denmark, Estonia, and other EU countries are expected to announce measures to reporters. 

• Lithuania's foreign minister has strongly condemned the nerve agent attack."We handed a note to the ambassador that three Russian embassy officials are declared persona non grata for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status," Linas Linkevicius told AFP. He said the attack was the first time after World War II that military chemical weapons were used on NATO, EU territory against civilians, adding these "methods... are not acceptable." Asked whether the Baltic country would expel Russian diplomats, he said: "Lithuania will announce today national measures, including what you mentioned but not only that."

• Romania's Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu also expressed solidarity with Britain and said authorities would announce measures later.

• The United States is kicking out 60 Russian diplomats and ordering Russia's consulate in Seattle to close in response to the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain. Senior Trump administration officials say the expelled Russians include 12 spies who the U.S. believes are working under diplomatic cover at Russia's mission to the United Nations. The US president ordered the closure of the Seattle consulate as it is a counter-intelligence concern because of its proximity to a U.S. Navy base. The officials say the actions are being taken to send a message about the "unacceptably high" number of Russian spies in the U.S. and to respond to the attack in the U.K. The officials weren't authorized to be identified by name and requested anonymity. The expelled Russians will have seven days to leave the U.S.

• Germany and Poland both say they have asked four Russian diplomats to leave, while in Lithuania, three Russian diplomats were ordered to leave. The German foreign ministry said in a statement that the move was part of a joint European response to the Skripal case. It said "the expulsion of four diplomats is a strong signal of solidarity with Great Britain and signals the resolve of the Germany government not to leave attacks against our closest partners and allies unanswered." The ministry added that the move was also a response to the recent cyberattacks against German government networks, "which according to information so far is highly likely to be attributable to Russian sources."

• Among the 14 EU countries, France will also expel four Russian diplomats over spy case, as announced by its ministry. While Ukraine expels 13, Denmark to expel two Russian diplomats.