US State Department prepares second package of sanctions against Russia for Skripal poisonings
The US Department of State sent a second package of sanctions related to the poisonings of a former officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter which took place in the UK to the head of department, Mike Pompeo, and the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
Deputy Secretary of State Andrea Thompson spoke on the issue at a Senate hearing, as reported by Radio Svoboda.
Thompson called the new sanctions part of an expanded strategy towards Russia.
It was reported that Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned in Salisbury on March 4, 2018 using the nerve agent Novichok, developed in the Soviet Union and then in Russia. London claims that the attempt was organized by the Kremlin and assigned direct blame to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow denies the accusation.
The first package of US sanctions related to the Skripal poisonings went to effect on August 27, 2018. The levied penalties include a ban on the sale of weapons, as well as dual-use goods and technologies, to Russia.
The second package could include a total ban on the export of American goods to Russia, restriction of imports of Russian goods to the United States, decrease in diplomatic relations and ban on private company air operations.