[Epoch Times, April 16, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Li Yan comprehensive report) The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday (April 16) that it has banned British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (April 16, 2022). Liz Truss, Defence Minister Ben Wallace and 10 other members of the British government and politicians entered the country. The British government also responded.
In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry said the move was a reaction “in view of the unprecedented hostilities by the British government, especially the sanctions imposed on senior Russian officials,” adding that the list would be expanded soon.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters. The Kremlin called it “the most active participant in the anti-Russian race”.
A week ago, Johnson visited Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and affirmed the cooperation between Britain and Ukraine.
In March, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced a ban on luxury goods exports to Russia and imposed tariffs on more than $1 billion worth of Russian goods.
Sunak also said Britain would also deny its most-favored-nation trade tariffs on hundreds of exports from Russia and Belarus, effectively depriving both countries of key benefits as members of the World Trade Organization.
An additional 35 percent tariff on Russian goods will apply to imports including vodka, steel, art and furs.
A few days later, the UK revoked the broadcasting license of Kremlin-backed Russian media RT, according to a statement from the regulator.
Earlier this month, Britain sanctioned two “key Russian oligarchs” linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, freezing ties to Eugene Tenenbaum and $13 billion in assets related to David Davidovich.
In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said the sanctions were “the largest asset freeze in UK history”. The statement also said Britain had sanctioned 106 Russian oligarchs, family members and associates since February.
“The UK and our international partners are united in condemning the Russian government’s reprehensible actions in Ukraine and calling on the Kremlin to stop the war,” a British government spokesman said in response to Moscow’s decision to ban Johnson and other British politicians.
“We remain firmly behind Ukraine,” the spokesman added.
Responsible editor: Lin Yan#