Photo: NZ HeraldThe Government will no longer resume free-trade talks with Russia in light of the chemical attack in the UK against former spy Sergei Skripal, believed to be carried out by Russia. The Labour-NZ First coalition agreement included a promise to restart free-trade talks, but that will now be suspended following the attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia. New Zealand had almost completed a free-trade deal with Russia in 2014, but it was frozen following the Russian annexation of Crimea. The chemical attack has sparked international outrage, with British Prime Minister Theresa May blaming the attack on Russia and announcing the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from the UK. The Prime Minister needs to shut him down and start showing some leadership to our friends and allies."

Source: Otago Daily Times March 16, 2018 05:37 UTC