Russia’s foreign ministry on Saturday has released a statement that it had barred entry to the country for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Defence Secretary Ben Wallance and ten other British government members as well as politicians.
The move was taken “Because of the unprecedented hostile action by the British Government, in specific, the imposition of sanctions against senior Russian officials,” the ministry mentioned in a statement, further adding that it would expand the list soon.
The Kremlin has explained Johnson, who has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest backers, as “the most active participant in the race to be anti-Russian.”
Earlier a week ago, Johnson visited Kyiv, where he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised each other for their cooperation since the Russian invasion, which Moscow calls a “special military operation.”
In a response to Russia’s decision to bar Johnson and other British politicians, the British government spokesperson said, “The United Kingdom & our international partners stand united in denouncing the Russian government’s reprehensible actions in Ukraine as well as calling for the Kremlin to put an end to the war.”
The spokesperson further added, “We remain resolute in our support for Ukraine.”
