Russia Weighs Retaliation to US Sanctions

Russia says it is considering retaliatory measures to new U.S. sanctions over the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy in the English city of Salisbury.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday the restrictions represent a new attempt to "demonize Russia." She said Moscow will work out retaliatory measures, adding that "ultimatums against Russia are useless."

The State Department said Wednesday the U.S. made the determination that Russia had used the Novichok nerve agent to poison former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, and that sanctions would follow later this month.

Zakharova repeated Moscow's fierce denial of involvement in the poisoning, saying that neither Britain nor the U.S. have presented any evidence to back the accusations.

She said Russia stands by its offer to Britain to conduct a joint probe into the poisoning.

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