World War III worries rise, Russia planning ‘major retaliation’ against US

Amid the deteriorating ties between the superpowers, Russia has announced that it was planning a major response to the US after Donald Trump ordered fresh sanctions against Kremlin.

“The Putin government has drafted a bill suspending cooperation with US companies in the nuclear, missile and aircraft-building spheres,” italicised Russia Today.

Russian lawmakers are also mulling to introduce restrictions on imports of alcohol and tobacco produced in the US.

Earlier in April, the White House added 38 Russian entrepreneurs, senior officials and companies to its sanctions list for the country’s “malign activity” taking place across the world.

“At least, we are giving an adequate reply to the United States of America. We are stopping the cooperation with the USA in three very important spheres: the nuclear industry, the aircraft building industry and the rocket engine industry,” said Sergey Mironov, head of the Fair Russia party.

The move comes amid the growing tensions between the two superpowers over the US-led strikes in three Syrian cities in response to a suspected deadly chemical attack in the town of Douma.

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The strikes miffed Syria’s ally Russia and the country warned the US, UK and France of the consequences.

“We are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences. All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris,” said Russian Embassy in the US.

Meanwhile, Trump has issued a fresh warning to the Syrian government and said that the US was “locked and loaded” to strike again if the country carries out new chemical attacks.

Russia took the matter to the United Nations and brought the UN Security Council vote seeking condemnation of the US-led strikes in Syria. However, the vote was rejected by the council.

During the UN Security Council emergency meeting held on Saturday, Russia and US envoys indulged in a bitter exchange.

Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia accused the US and its allies of “hooliganism” and “cynical disdain” after they acted without waiting for the results of an investigation into the Douma incident.

Responding to the Russian envoy’s allegations, US envoy Nikki Haley said the strikes were “justified, legitimate and proportionate”.

Haley said, “We cannot stand by and let Russia trash every international norm and allow use of chemical weapons to go unanswered.”