Moscow, March 15 (RHC) – Moscow has vowed there will be a swift response to the expulsion of 23 of its diplomats by Britain.

A spokesperson for the Russian government said  President Vladimir Putin is expected to make a final decision on that response but that it "won't take long."

The British action was triggered by what the government in London has described as the explained use of a Russian nerve gas against a former spy and his daughter in the UK.

Russia has denied any involvement, with its foreign ministry calling the allegations by Prime Minister Theresa May "insane".

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying Russia would "definitely" expel UK diplomats "soon".

Lavrov was also quoted by Tass as saying he hoped the spy involved in the incident, Sergei Skripal, would recover so he could shed light on events.

The Russian foreign minister said also that a motive behind the UK's actions might be to complicate Russia's hosting of Fifa's World Cup this summer.