Russia Blacklists Top EU Officials in Response to Sanctions

Russia banned more European Union officials, lawmakers, public figures and journalists from entering the country in response to heavy sanctions.

“The restrictions apply to the top leadership of the European Union, including a number of European commissioners and heads of EU military structures, as well as the vast majority of members of the European Parliament who promote anti-Russian policies,” the foreign ministry said.

The blacklist also included representatives of some EU member states in addition to public figures and journalists who it said were “personally responsible for promoting illegal anti-Russian sanctions, inciting Russophobic sentiments and the infringement of the rights and freedoms of the Russian-speaking population”.

The EU, the United States and numerous other Western countries have imposed sweeping economic and political sanctions on Russia in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Meantime, President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow will stop supplying gas to countries it considers “unfriendly” unless they pay in roubles.

“We offer contractors from such countries a clear and transparent scheme,” Putin said. “We will continue to consistently and systematically move in this direction as part of a long-term plan, to increase the share of foreign trade settlements in the national currency and the currencies of those countries that are reliable partners.”