Russia sanctions UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior ministers

Travel ban is retaliation against British response to invasion of Ukraine

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been one of the most visible western leaders during the crisis in Ukraine. AFP

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Russia on Saturday banned entry to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a dozen senior politicians in what it described as a set of personal sanctions in response to Britain's support for Ukraine.

Moscow said it was responding to “unprecedented hostile actions of the British government” including military aid for Ukraine and sanctions intended to choke the Russian economy.

It accused the British leadership of pursuing a “Russophobic course” by pushing its western allies into bringing in “senseless and counterproductive” sanctions, including against individuals in President Vladimir Putin's inner circle.

The ministers under sanction include Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and other senior Cabinet members.

Former prime minister Theresa May, a critic of Russia who authorised sanctions after the Salisbury poison incident in 2018, and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon were also on the sanctions list.

“In the near future, this list will be expanded to include British politicians and parliamentarians who contribute to whipping up anti-Russian hysteria,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

A UK government spokesman said Britain would "remain resolute" in supporting Ukraine, while Ms Sturgeon said she would not shy away from condemning Mr Putin, whom she called a war criminal.

Other MPs saw the sanctions as a tribute to the UK's response to the war. "Banned by Putin? Wear that badge with pride," said Conservative MP Andrew Murrison.

Ms Truss and Mr Wallace had visited Russia shortly before the invasion as part of the West's efforts to stop an invasion of Ukraine. Mr Johnson did not follow German and French leaders Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron to the Kremlin.

Russia last month imposed sanctions on US President Joe Biden and senior White House aides as well as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Western countries, in turn, have sanctioned Mr Putin and members of his family as well as some of his most visible allies such as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The latest UK sanctions hit businessmen Eugene Tenenbaum and David Davidovich, described by the British government as having close ties to Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.

Russia separately on Friday announced the expulsion of 18 European Union diplomats from Moscow, in retaliation at the bloc declaring 19 Russian diplomats in Brussels and Vienna unwelcome. The EU said the expulsions were groundless.

Moscow said the personal sanctions against its leadership were chief among its grievances as it accused Britain of an “unbridled information and political campaign” against Russia.

Mr Johnson has been one of the most visible western leaders during the crisis in Ukraine and last week visited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

He has made light of the Kremlin's allegations of Russophobia by saying that the first name Boris gives him a kinship with the country.