国际英语资讯:Britain-Russia clash over poisoning of double agent escalates_时事

国际英语资讯:Britain-Russia clash over poisoning of double agent escalates

These measures included the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in a week, the freezing of Russian state assets in Britain, the suspension of all planned high-level bilateral contacts and a boycott by ministers and the Royal Family to attend the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Besides the sanctions imposed by Britain, Washington on Thursday also announced more sanctions on Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election and "malicious" cyber attacks, which may make things worse for Moscow.

Earlier on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said London's accusations were "completely insane," adding that "reciprocal steps" would be taken in the near future in response to London's retaliations, including suspending all planned high-level bilateral contacts.

On Thursday afternoon, the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament heard an update by Britain on the poisoning in Salisbury in which Britain said a military-grade nerve agent Novichok developed by Russia had been used.

"The United Kingdom had concluded that the Russian State was involved, and had taken adequate measures, which were not directed against the people of Russia but were in objection to reckless acts of its Government," a British representative said.

Russia in response urged Britain to provide concrete evidence and facts on which it was basing its accusations.

Denying Russia's involvement in the poisoning, a Russian representative said that this issue should be discussed in a different forum and remarked that its requests to Britain for information-sharing remained unanswered.