According to CNN, President Trump's National Security Council will recommend he expel an undetermined number of Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia on March 4th in Salisbury, England.
The decision to send that recommendation to the President comes after a high-level meeting at the White House on Wednesday during which the NSC drew up a range of options to take action against Russia, according to multiple State Department officials and a source familiar with the discussion.
Ultimately, the outcome of that meeting was a recommendation that Trump should expel more Russian diplomats from the US -- an option several sources told CNN was the most severe response under consideration.
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According to a source with knowledge of the discussions, it is believed that the US was waiting to see what members of the European Council would do -- and on Friday 10 European countries announced they would follow the United Kingdom's lead by also expelling Russian diplomats.
At a summit in Brussels, the 28 EU leaders agreed with Britain that it is "highly likely" Russia is responsible for the March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. They remain unconscious in critical condition after being exposed to a military-grade nerve agent.
The EU has recalled its ambassador from Moscow for consultations over an incident it called "a grave challenge to our shared security."
French President Emmanuel Macron said the nerve-agent attack was an attack on Europe's sovereignty that required a "coordinated and determined response."
[EU Council chief Donald] Tusk called the bloc's response "unprecedented," and said "more steps are expected at a national level" starting Monday.
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The EU leaders' statements came after a summit dinner where May shared information about why Britain is convinced Moscow was behind the attack, including the type of poison used — a Soviet-developed nerve agent known as Novichok — and intelligence that Russia has produced it within the past decade.
Moscow insists it was not behind the attack and has accused Britain of fomenting anti-Russian hysteria.
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"What is crucial is that there was recognition around the table last night about the threat that Russia poses," May said. "I think it is clear that Russia is challenging the values we share as Europeans, and it is right that we are standing together in defense of those values."
On Tuesday, Britain sent 23 Russian diplomats and their families back to Moscow. Russia retaliated by ordering 23 British diplomats leave the country by tomorrow.
CNN says if President Trump decides to follow through on the NSC recommendation, he could do so as early as next week.
Trump's National Security Council recommends expelling Russian diplomats (CNN)
EU nations to take more action against Russia over spy (AP)
Russia Expels 23 British Diplomats, Escalating Row Over Ex-Spy’s Poisoning (NYT)