Russia's foreign ministry says Skripal case allegations 'groundless'

FILE PHOTO: Members of the emergency services wearing protective clothing work near the bench where former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found poisoned in Salisbury, Britain, March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry on Monday said allegations of Moscow's involvement in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the English town of Salisbury - an event which led to a new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia - were groundless. "We see the groundless allegations of Russia's involvement in the Salisbury incident as another attempt to paint our country as a state which approaches its international obligations in an irresponsible fashion," the ministry said in a statement. Washington said on Wednesday it would impose fresh sanctions on Russia by the end of August after it determined that Moscow had used a nerve agent against Skripal and his daughter in Britain. (Reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy; Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)