Sanctions hit Russia

US move against poisonings in Britain a big blow to Moscow

TOUGH new sanctions announced against Russia yesterday could extend to downgrading diplomatic relations, suspending a Russian airline’s ability to fly to the US, and cutting off large amounts of exports and imports.

The reach of the sanctions is now becoming clearer after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed off on a determination that Russia violated international law by poisoning the former spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, in March. The Skripals spent several weeks in hospital after falling seriously ill.

US TV network NBC reports the US sanctions will be imposed in two rounds, with the first tranche to take affect on or around August 22. That will include limits on exports and financing, which could have a limited impact as they overlap with current sanctions. It would also reportedly include a ban on granting licences to export sensitive national security goods to Russia, such as electronic devices and components.

A second, harsher round would take effect in three months unless Russia provided “reliable assurances” it wouldn’t use chemical weapons again and agreed to “onsite inspections” by UN officials. That could reportedly include downgrading diplomatic relations, significantly limiting exports and imports and suspending Russia’s state airline Aeroflot from flying to the US.

“The United States (determined) that the Government of the Russian Federation has used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law, or has used lethal chemical or biological weapons against its own nationals,” US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

The new sanctions were to take effect following a 15-day Congressional notification period, she said.

The new announcement could bolster Mr Trump’s claim that his administration is taking a tough stance on Moscow.