“Putin is going to use it in the way Hitler used the 1936 Olympics,” Mr. Austin said. He also rejected the assertion by Russia that it had nothing to do with the attack on Mr. Skripal and his daughter on March 4. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Mr. Yermakov, however, went even further this time by painting the Salisbury attack as only the latest chapter in a long-running, elaborate conspiracy against Russia and its allies. He dredged up numerous past accusations against the West, including some related to the war in Iraq.

Source: New York Times March 21, 2018 20:04 UTC