The Trump administration announced fresh sanctions on Russia over a nerve agent assassination attempt on a former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, who had been living in the United Kingdom.
Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, England, on March 4. They were seriously ill but made a full recovery in a hospital.
Russia has denied playing any role in the assassination attempt.
The novichok-type nerve agent was found on the front door of Skripal’s home.
The sanctions will cover sensitive national security goods, a senior State Department official told reporters on a conference call.
The official said a second batch of “more draconian” sanctions would be imposed after 90 days unless Russia gives “reliable assurances” that it will no longer use chemical weapons and allow on-site inspections by the United Nations.
“If those criteria are not met, it is up to Russia to make that decision, a second round of sanctions ... will to be imposed,” the official said. “They are in general more draconian than the first round.”
There would be exemptions for space flight activities as well as areas covering commercial passenger aviation safety, the official added.
The sanctions, according to the State Department statement, will take place on Aug. 22, 2018, following a “15-day congressional notification period.”
Since the March attack, two other British nationals with no ties to Russia were poisoned with novichok.