Earlier, media reported that new economic sanctions on Russian business leaders and politicians were expected this week.

The US sanctions Russia's Suleiman Kerimov, Mikhail Fradkov, Sergey Fursenko, Oleg Deripaska, Igor Rotenberg, Kirill Shamalov, Viktor Vekselberg, the US Treasury Department announced.

Russia's presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District Vladimir Ustinov is among the individuals sanctioned by the US.

US Treasury Department said that it also sanctions Russia's United Company Rusal, Russian Machines, Basic Element, Renova Group Gaz Group, Kuban Agro, Gazprom Drilling, Gazprom Burenie.

The sanctions were planned before Russia was accused of being behind poisoning of its former intelligence agent Sergei Skripal in southern England. Moscow has constantly denied interfering in the 2016 US election or claims of a role in the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal, which left him critically ill.

Russia has rejected London's allegations and called for a joint investigation into the incident.