"Reminder of the Russian theme": the State Department announced plans to introduce a second package of sanctions in the case of Skripale

Washington intends to act in accordance with the provisions of the law on chemical weapons, requiring the introduction of a second package of sanctions against Russia in connection with the case of the ex-GRU officer Sergey Skripal. This was stated by the official representative of the US State Department Heather Nauert.

"We intend to act in accordance with the provisions of the law on the non-proliferation of chemical and biological weapons, which requires us to impose additional sanctions," Nauert quotes RIA Novosti.

Nauert noted that on the eve of the foreign ministry informed the US Congress that "can not confirm that the Russian Federation has fulfilled the requirements provided for" by law, reports TASS. According to her, the State Department is consulting with Congress on how to proceed.

Ed Roy, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives, said earlier that Moscow “did not comply with the requirements of the law” and criticized the administration of US President Donald Trump for the lack of an action plan for the second round of restrictive measures. According to him, the White House needs to act quickly in order to "confirm its own determination."

In September, the State Department reported that the United States is preparing another package of sanctions against Russia. According to the United States Assistant Secretary of State Manisha Singh, Washington was engaged in working out a “hard” package of sanctions against Moscow.

“We are planning to put into action a very tough second package of sanctions,” she said. Clarified that restrictions may come into force in November.

In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow is not going to respond to Washington’s demands, which provide for inspection of chemical facilities.

“To unilaterally or even respond to illegitimate, ultimatum, Washington’s requirements for additional inspections in the territory of the Russian Federation going far beyond the CWC, on the basis of one or another US domestic national legislation, we certainly do not intend,” the diplomat said.

"Pumping up the political situation"

It was no coincidence that the “hard” package of Russian sanctions was decided to be introduced on the eve of the American elections, said political analyst Alexander Asafov. According to him, now the need to raise the "Russian theme" from the opponents of Trump has increased markedly.

“Now the reminders about the Russian theme on the part of Trump’s opponents are especially important, because, in the understanding of his opponents, he actually softened possible sanctions,” said the expert.

According to Asafov, it is important for congressmen to prove that Trump is too loyal to Russia.

“The fact is that, in contrast to this bill, all the sanctions introduced earlier, according to the US House of Representatives, do not look strictly and resolutely enough. After all, we are talking about the alleged poisoning with the alleged use of chemical warfare agents. Therefore, the task is to prove that Trump is not strict enough against Russia, ”he added.

Against the background of the elections, anti-Russian rhetoric in the United States will be relevant, agreed Oleg Morozov, a member of the international committee of the Federation Council.

“We are quite fit for the role of a country that prevents the United States from feeling like the undivided master of the world and“ influencing ”their elections,” RIA Novosti Morozova quotes.

According to him, the next restrictive measures are quite real, as they become "the political way of survival of certain circles of the United States."

The first round of sanctions in the case of Skripale

Recall that the first package of US sanctions against Russia on charges from Washington in the "use of chemical weapons in British Salisbury" came into force on August 27.

The sanctions document indicated that the package of restrictive measures would include a ban on the provision of foreign assistance to Russia, the sale of weapons and the financing of such transactions, as well as a ban on the expert of dual-use goods and technologies. The first round of sanctions in the case of Skripale somewhat duplicates previous restrictions associated with the sale of weapons to Russia.

The sanctions adopted in August provide for the cessation of assistance to Russia in the framework of the law "On Foreign Aid" of 1961. The exceptions are food supplies, agricultural products, as well as humanitarian aid.

A refusal to give Russia any loans, loan guarantees and financial assistance from any government department or other US departments was also formulated.

After the first package of sanctions, it was assumed that Russia would provide experts with access to various facilities to get the United States reliable information and guarantees that the Russian Federation does not intend to "use chemical weapons in the future." At the same time, Washington is not satisfied with the evidence already provided to international organizations that there are no chemical weapons in the country.

The second package of sanctions, according to the law, provides for lowering the level of bilateral diplomatic relations and a significant reduction in trade relations.