At the press conference with Chancellor Merkel, President Putin cast doubt on recent findings in the investigation into the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. The international chemical weapons watchdog has said a military-grade toxin was likely used on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury. The former Russian spy survived the attack and has been discharged from a British hospital.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "I think if a military-grade poisonous agent had been used, as our British colleagues stated, this person would have died instantly. Military-grade poisonous agents are so strong that they kill a person instantly, or maybe within seconds or minutes. Thank God he recovered, was discharged from hospital and I hope he will be alive, healthy and unharmed."

"As for the investigation - we offered all the necessary help to our British partners and asked them to give us access to the investigation on their side. No response yet. Our offer is still on the table."