EU split over Russia scandal as Jean-Claude Juncker faces revolt for letter of congratulations to Putin

EU divisions over Russia were laid bare on Tuesday after Guy Verhoftstadt, the European parliament's chief Brexit negotiator, attacked the bloc's most senior official for congratulating Vladimir Putin his election victory. 

Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, tweeted a letter of congratulations just one day after the EU offered the UK its “unqualified support” over the Salisbury spy attack.

But Mr Verhofstadt, also the leader of the liberal ALDE group, angrily responded: "This is no time for congratulations. We will always need dialogue with Russia, but closer ties must be conditional on respect for the rules based international order and fundamental values."

It also emerged that Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council and former prime minister of Poland, was unlikely to write a letter to Mr Putin, who he has been highly critical of in the past. 

"President Tusk has not sent such a letter, I would not be surprised if he would not send it at all," one senior EU official said. 

The head of the Commission, which is leading the Brexit negotiations on behalf of the remaining 27 member state of the EU,  wrote to the Russian leader on Tuesday.

“Excellency, Mr President,” he wrote, “I wish to convey my congratulations on your re-election”.

“Our common objective should be to reestablish a cooperative pan-European security order,” Mr Juncker added. 

“I wish you every success in carrying out your high responsibilities,” he said. 

Mr Putin, who won a fourth six-year term by a disputed landslide on Sunday, is suspected by Britain of ordering the nerve agent attack which poisoned ex Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

On Monday, British officials claimed a diplomatic victory in Brussels after securing a statement of support for Britain and a demand that Russia gives answers over the attack at a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers.

The EU condemned the Salisbury attack as "reckless and illegal" and said it took British accusations that Russia was responsible "extremely seriously".

"The European Union is shocked at the offensive use of any military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, for the first time on European soil in over 70 years. The use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances is completely unacceptable and constitutes a security threat to us all," the statement read.  

Sources confirmed there was widespread support for Britain with Greece alone responsible for the language not being tougher.

Yet Mr Juncker’s letter has undermined that success and the good feeling generated by the announcement Monday that Britain and the EU had struck a deal on the Brexit transition period. 

Ashley Fox, the leader of Conservative MEPs in the European Parliament, whose constituency includes Salisbury, branded the letter “nauseating”. 

"This is a disgraceful letter from Jean-Claude Juncker," he said, "to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his election victory without referring to the clear ballot rigging that took place is bad enough. But his failure to mention Russian's responsibility for a military nerve agent attack on innocent people in my constituency is nauseating."

Mr Fox added: "The European Commission President is appeasing a man who poses a clear threat to western security."

Sarah Wollaston MP, the Tory chair of the Commons health committee, called the letter “shameful” on Twitter.

Guy Verhofstadt, who is usually broadly supportive of Mr Juncker, also attacked the commission president. 

"This is no time for congratulations. We will always need dialogue with Russia, but closer ties must be conditional on respect for the rules based international order and fundamental values," the European Parliament's Brexit coordinator and leader of the liberal ALDE group tweeted. 

It also emerged that Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council and former prime minister of Poland, was unlikely to write a letter to Mr Putin, who he has been highly critical of in the past. 

"President Tusk has not sent such a letter, I would not be surprised if he would not send it at all," one senior EU official said. 

On Thursday, Theresa May, who expelled 23 Russian diplomats after the attack, will aim to secure EU leaders backing for a further condemnation of Russia in conclusions for this week’s European Council summit in Brussels.

Draft conclusions suggest that EU leaders will say this week that they will "coordinate on the consequences" for Russia but stop short of mentioning sanctions.