By Michael RonesOn March 4, former Russian spy, turned British double agent, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury, England. They were found unconscious on a shopping center bench and remain in critical condition. Mr. Skirpal, who was imprisoned in Russia in 2006 for selling Russian secrets to Great Britain, had been living in Salisbury since he was part of a spy swap in 2010.In the ensuing weeks since the attack, Great Britain outed Russia as the source of the attack with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson saying the attack was most likely personally approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian officials have denied that Russia had any involvement in the attack and have condemned the United Kingdom for damaging diplomatic ties.In response to the poisoning of the former Russian spy, the United Kingdom released a joint statement on Thursday with the United States, France, and Germany condemning Russia for what “constitutes the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War” and “an assault on UK sovereignty.” The United Kingdom also ordered the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in the United Kingdom who were, according to British Prime Minister Theresa May, undeclared intelligence officers. Prime Minister May also announced that Great Britain may freeze Russian assets in the United Kingdom that threaten the country’s security and revoke the operating license of the Russian broadcaster RT as a form of punishment for the attack, which violates the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993. In response to expulsion of its diplomats and the possibility of other punishments, Russia expelled 23 British diplomats in Russia and promised to ban all British media should Great Britain revoke RT’s operating license.The United States announced its own sanctions on Russia the following week, punishing the country for interference with the U.S. elections. The United States also cited the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal and cyber attacks on U.S. utilities, factories, and nuclear facilities upon its announcement of sanctions. The sanctions specifically target five entities and 19 individuals involved in election interference. What remains to be seen is whether punishments made by the United Kingdom, the United States, and other nations can influence Russia to halt operations deemed intolerable by the operations’ targets.The Trump administration subsequently expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the United States and closed the Russian consulate in Seattle. While this move, and the prior sanctions, signal a tougher line on Russia previously absent from the Trump administration, critics argue that the expulsion carries the loophole of not forcing Russia to subsequently reduce embassy staffing levels, meaning the 60 officials can be replaced according to Business Insider. The Russian government responded to this action, which Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called "outrageous and groundless" according to NPR, by expelling 60 US diplomats from their country and closing the American consulate in Saint Petersburg. This "tit for tat" pattern of action and retaliation indicates a worrisome pattern of escaltion in already fraught relations between the US and Russia.This is not the first time that a Russian expatriate in Great Britain who chafed with President Vladimir Putin’s regime has suddenly fallen ill or died. The Novichok attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal serves as a tragic reminder of the 2006 polonium-210 poisoning of Alexander Litinvenko, a Russian whistle-blower. The attack on the Skripals has led the United Kingdom to reconsider the deaths of 14 other Russian expatriates. The most recent sudden death of a Russian on President Putin’s bad side happened on Monday when Nikolai Glushkov was found dead in his London home. While no ties to Russia have officially been made, police are investigating the death as a murder, drawing speculation of whether Russia was involved.It seems certain is that Russia will remain undeterred by the international condemnation, diplomatic strain, and sanctions made in retaliation for Russia’s threats on the integrity of foreign nations. As a country that repeatedly disregards international norms because its leadership is keenly aware of its political security within Russia and the limited action that other nations can take, it should not be long before we see Russia flex its muscles again on the international stage.