Jacinda Ardern has come out strongly in support of the UK in its clash with Russia

She says this country supports the joint statement made by the leaders of the UK, US, Germany and France on the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Ms Ardern says outrage at the brazen and callous use of chemical weapons in a UK town is fully justified.

She says New Zealand fully supports the sovereign right of the UK to take the action it considers appropriate in response to this violation of international law on its territory.

She calls the Russian reaction cynical, sarcastic and inadequate and says there is no plausible alternative explanation hitherto, this came from anywhere other than Russia.