US To Impose New Sanctions On Russia After Nerve Agent Attack

US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland last month (Picture: PA).

United States officials say new sanctions will be imposed on Russia following the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Salisbury. 

Sergei Skripal, the former Russian double agent, was found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury along with his daughter in March after being exposed to the nerve agent, 'Novichok'. Both have since recovered.

The US State Department said the sanctions will be imposed on Russia because it used a chemical weapon in violation of international law.

23 Russian diplomats, who Prime Minister Theresa May described as "undeclared intelligence officers", were expelled from the UK as a result of the incident. 

More than 20 countries, including the US, followed Britain's stance by also expelling Russian diplomats from their countries.

Russia replied by expelling 23 British diplomats.  

Just last month, US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland. 

After the summit, President Trump said he and President Putin could have an "extraordinary relationship".

Since the attack on the Skripals in March, two other British nationals with no ties to Russia were poisoned by the substance in Amesbury, near Salisbury. One person, Dawn Sturgess, died as a result. 

Around 200 military personnel helped with decontamination work in Salisbury following the poisoning.