The Russian government announced on Saturday that it would ban the entry of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several other senior government officials in response sanctions Imposed on Russia by the war in Ukraine.
“This action was taken in response to the […] political campaign aimed at intentionally isolating Russia in order to create conditions to overwhelm our country and stall our economy,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry accused London of launching “unprecedented hostile actions”, particularly in relation to sanctions against senior Russian officials.
“British leaders are deliberately aggravating the situation around Ukraine by supplying the Kiev regime with deadly weapons and coordinating similar efforts on behalf of NATO,” the ministry said.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and exPrime Minister Theresa May as well as Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon also vetoed the move.
Britain is part of an international move to punish Russia with an asset freeze, travel ban and economic sanctions after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a war against Ukraine on February 24.