The Russians are angry and shocked that the US is imposing restrictions on the export of sensitive technology to Russia because of the country’s use of a nerve agent to attack a former MI6 spy in Britain. However, Kremlin has not been able to convince anyone that Russia's agents were not behind the attack.

Politicians in Moscow have labelled the measures “draconian.” They strongly denied that Russia had any role in the attempt to kill Sergei Skripal, the agent, and his daughter, Yulia, using the nerve agent novichok.



The Russia are now threatening to cut off a supply of rocket engines that are crucial to the US space programme. A senior Russian senator, Sergey Ryabukhin, said that in retaliation Moscow could restrict exports of RD-180 rocket engines to the US. The engines are used to power Atlas V rockets.

The engines are made by Energomash, a Russian company majority-owned by the state.

Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the international affairs committee in Russia’s lower house of parliament, added :
“The United States is using any excuse to contain Russia and aggressively advance its own interests. The intention to introduce sanctions over the Skripal affair without presenting any evidence is the latest confirmation of rabid Russophobic hysteria.”