US Senator Menendez Urges Trump To Impose New Sanctions On Russia Over Skripal Case

US Senator Menendez Urges Trump to Impose New Sanctions on Russia Over Skripal Case

President Donald Trump should impose without delay a second round of sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal, US Senator Robert Menendez in a statement on Friday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th November, 2018) President Donald Trump should impose without delay a second round of sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal, US Senator Robert Menendez in a statement on Friday.

"As the possibility of another meeting between President Trump and Vladimir Putin increases, I strongly urge the president to put in place the second round of sanctions required by US law for Russia's use of chemical weapons," Menendez said.

Menendez noted that the Trump administration notified Congress about Russia's failure to halt its use of chemical and biological weapons within the 90-day deadline under the Chemical and Biological Weapons and Warfare Elimination Act.

Menendez, who is a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the time to act is now.

"In order to get serious about holding Russia accountable, the administration must follow the law and swiftly impose an impactful second round of sanctions to effectively deter further use of chemical weapons by the Kremlin," Menendez said.

On Tuesday, State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino said the United States intends to proceed with new sanctions against Russia over the Skripal attack.

The United States has accused Russia of being involved in the March 4 nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England.

On August 24, the United States announced that it was imposing sanctions on Russia under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991.

Under the terms of the Act, Russia was given until November 6 to prove it had complied with the strict conditions it imposed, including inspections, or face a new round of more severe sanctions.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration informed Congress that Russia had not complied with the conditions, and the State Department said it would proceed with new sanctions.

Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in the Skripal attack, saying the UK authorities have provided no evidence to back their allegations and have not cooperated with Russia in investigating the incident as per international law.