US imposes second round of sanctions on Russia over Salisbury poisoning

WASHINGTON -- The US State Department late Friday slapped a second round of sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Southern England in March 2018.

With the second round of sanctions in place, the United States would oppose the extension of loans to Russia by international financial institutions, ban US banks from participating in the primary market for non-ruble denominated Russian sovereign debt and lending non-ruble denominated funds to the Russian government, and impose additional export licensing restrictions on the Department of Commerce-controlled goods and technology.

Britain has charged two Russians in absentia with the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy who became a double agent for Britain, with a military-grade nerve agent in Salisbury, England in March 2018.

Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning incident.

The United States slapped the first round of sanctions on Russia over the matter in August 2018, which terminated US foreign assistance, arms sales and financing to Russia.

The Salisbury poisoning triggered a diplomatic war between Russia and the West, resulting in mutual expulsions of diplomats.