Russia lashes out at US over 'categorically unacceptable' new sanctions

Donald Trump can decide to cancel the measures, independently of Congress

Oliver Carroll
Moscow
Thursday 09 August 2018 17:58 BST
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New sanctions seemed unlikely when presidents Trump and Putin met in Helsinki
New sanctions seemed unlikely when presidents Trump and Putin met in Helsinki

The Kremlin has reacted strongly to the new round of US sanctions announced on Wednesday, describing them as “categorically unacceptable” and “contrary to international law.”

“Such moves are absolutely unfriendly and at odds with the constructive atmosphere present at the last meeting of presidents in Helsinki,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

The sanctions follow the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury. US authorities say they agree with the British assessment the Kremlin stood behind the use of a weapons-grade chemical agent. The new sanctions, which, when announced by the State Department took many by surprise, include the provisions of a 1991 bill on chemical and biological weapons control.

The measures come in two tranches. The first, due to be introduced on 22 August, does not add much to the sanctions regime in place since the annexation of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine. The second stage – which will be implemented after three months if Russia does not agree to end a suspected chemical weapons programme – contains much harsher measures.

Possible new sanctions cover bans on flights to the US by government-backed airlines, including Russian flagship Aeroflot; on government credit; on exports to and imports from the US; and a downgrading of diplomatic relations.

A senior US State Department official told The Independent the United States hoped not to have to impose the second round of sanctions. That outcome would be possible if Russia provides guarantees of ending its alleged chemical weapons programme and allows a UN inspection regime into the country.

It is unlikely Moscow will agree to either condition. Speaking at her weekly conference, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia would not respond to “ultimatums” and “the language of strength.” She described the demands as “open hypocrisy,” and said they were based on no evidence.

Ms Zakharova claimed the United States was hiding behind its own chemical weapons programme. ”Last year, Russia voluntarily liquidated its chemical arsenals, in stark contrast to the United States,” she said.

According to US government sources, the sanctions bill followed automatically from the conclusion the Russian government was behind the Salisbury poisoning.

Unlike with earlier sanctions regimes, however, US President Donald Trump will have a much greater say as to when and how the penalties are applied. He can, for example, decide which three of the six listed measures to include in the second round of sanctions. He can also decide to cancel them – independently of Congress.

That detail is likely to provide some comfort for the Kremlin, which has invested much in what it describes as a “constructive” relationship with President Trump. At several times during Thursday’s press conference, Mr Peskov was at pains to differentiate between what he described as the “official” US position and that of anonymous administration sources.

Russia would only introduce countermeasures once that “official position” was clear, he said.

A senior parliamentarian identified the space industry as an area where Russia might look to impose counter sanctions. Sergey Ryabukhin, chair of the upper house’s Finance and Budget Committee, said restricting exports of RD-180 and RD-181 rockets – whose engines are used on Atlas V launches – would severely affect the US space programme.

“We should understand we have the means to reply,” said Mr Ryabukhin.

Russian markets have already responded to the prospect of three months of uncertainty.

The rouble extended a fall registered on Wednesday, in advance of the sanctions, reaching yearly lows of 66.51 roubles to the dollar and 76.7 to the euro. The country’s main RTS share index fell below the 1,100 level for the first time since June, at one point falling 3.2 per cent to 1,077 points, before recovering slightly.

Aeroflot shares led the losses, losing 8 per cent on the market opening before dropping further.

Moscow has angrily rejected any connection to the Salisbury incident.

Putin talks a prospect of world war 3, the skripals and Russian security

“There simply cannot be talk about this. It is impossible that Russia had any role in the use of chemical weapons,” Mr Peskov said.

He said Moscow was yet to receive an answer to its proposal for a joint investigation into the incident.

In April that suggestion was rejected by the British permanent representative at the UN, Karen Pierce, who likened the offer to “an arsonist wishing to investigate his fire”.

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