Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Russian President Vladimir Putin is "responsible as the head of state" for the poisoning of a former Russian spy on British soil, The Hill reports.
Asked about how he would label Moscow's actions regarding the recent poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter with a military-grade never gas in England, Mattis replied: "Attempted murder of a man and his daughter. How's that for starters?"
Mattis would not speculate on whether Putin was aware of the effort to poison the two, but said "certainly he's responsible as the head of state."
Despite denials from Russia that it carried out the attack, Mattis said it was "pretty obvious" Russia was behind it.
President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and the closing of Russia's consulate in Seattle for the Kremlin's alleged role in the poisoning.
The Trump administration said all 60 were spies working in the U.S. under diplomatic cover.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.