Russian President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and a dozen other top US officials have been placed on a “stop list” that prevents them from entering the country, according to Russian officials.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, CIA Director William Burns, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan were among the US officials on the list, in addition to Biden.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin, and CIA Director William Burns, as well as high-profile non-elected people like Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden, are among those named in the recently published retaliatory sanctions list.

The ‘stop list’ prevents Biden and 12 other people included on the list from entering Russia, according to the state-run news agency TASS.

Despite the penalties identifying some high-ranking White House employees, Russia’s foreign ministry stated that the country would retain normal diplomatic relations with the US and will contact those included on the list as needed.

After unprecedented sanctions were imposed on Russia in the aftermath of President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine, the Kremlin has long promised that it was preparing a “strong response” to Western countries.

Russia’s foreign ministry described the measures as “blackmail, intimidation, and threats” in a statement made after the first round of sanctions, which were announced a day before the invasion began.

Western countries have continued to attack Russia’s banks, businesses, and oligarchs in the nearly three weeks afterward, with the UK stating earlier today that another 350 Russians will have their assets frozen in the country.

The Russian economy appears to be crippled by Western sanctions, with the government likely to default on its foreign debt in the coming weeks and the Moscow Stock Exchange remaining closed for the third week in a seemingly futile attempt to avoid a market meltdown.

By contrast, Russia’s new sanctions are mostly symbolic, as top US officials are unlikely to have any financial holdings or interests in Russia.

President Biden has not visited Russia since 2011, when he traveled to Moscow for meetings with Putin as Vice President.

The White House is yet to respond to the announcement of the sanctions.

Source: unilad.co