Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 14, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 14, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleNavalny's poisoning with a nerve agent highlights Putin's alleged use of chemical weapons against Russians, as per Western conclusions.
PARIS, Feb 14 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noel Barrot on Saturday said President Vladimir Putin was willing to use chemical weapons against Russians, citing latest Western conclusions that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal nerve agent.
The governments of Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said in a joint statement they had concluded that Navalny had been poisoned with a lethal toxin in a penal colony two years ago. The Russian government has denied any responsibility for Navalny's death.
"Two years ago, Alexei Navalny died from poisoning caused by one of the deadliest nerve agents. We now know that Vladimir Putin is prepared to use chemical weapons against his own people to maintain his grip on power," Barrot said in remarks on X.
(Reporting by John Irish, writing by Leigh ThomasEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
A chemical weapon is a toxic chemical used to harm or kill humans, animals, or plants. They are classified as weapons of mass destruction and are prohibited under various international treaties.
International response refers to the actions taken by countries or international organizations to address a global issue, such as a humanitarian crisis or violation of international law.
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