Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has bolstered a statement from Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland – that brought a tongue-lashing from the Russian Embassy in Ottawa.

Trudeau has repeated Freeland’s assertion – that Russia was “likely” behind a nerve agent attack on a former spy and his daughter in England.

The Russian embassy called that view “reprehensible” in a statement today.

And in Regina, Trudeau repeated the word “likely” to reporters – and said he expressed that view today to British Prime Minister Teresa May.

He says the attack in England must be condemned “in the strongest terms.”

Meanwhile — U-S President Donald Trump faces new pressure to ramp up his response to Russia – after the British Prime Minister  punished Moscow for the poisoning of a former spy – by ordering Russian diplomats out of England.

The White House has said Trump agrees with May on the need for consequences –  but hasn’t specified any looming U-S actions.