Russian President Vladimir Putin.Photo: Sergei Guneyev/TASS/Getty
Russia permanently barred 963 Americans including politicians, celebrities, and tech executives from entering the country in response U.S. sanctions imposed on the country following itsinvasion of Ukrainein February.
On Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced an updated list of Americans who are no longer permitted into Russia including PresidentJoe Biden, Vice PresidentKamala Harris, former secretary of stateHillary Clinton, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and actor Morgan Freeman, according to theWashington Post.
However, former President Donald Trump, who has touted his “close relationship” with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin, was notably absent from the list.Barack Obamaand George W. Bush were also not included, the outlet reported.
“Russian counter-sanctions are forced and aimed at forcing the ruling American regime, which is trying to impose a neo-colonial ‘rules-based world order’ on the rest of the world, to change its behavior, recognizing new geopolitical realities,” the statement continued.
Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — who appeared on Saturday’s list — were previously banned from the country in March. Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and the president’s son Hunter Biden are also included on the new list,The Washington Postreports.
Over 230 Congressional members including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy were also named. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul did not appear on the list, according to the outlet, according toUSA Today.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Matt Gaetz, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were also banned, the outlet reports.
Former Senators John McCain, Harry M. Reid, and Orrin G. Hatch — who are all deceased — were also barred from the country.
In addition to lawmakers, Zuckerberg, Microsoft President Brad Smith, ABC News' George Stephanopoulos,The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser, New York Times' Bret Stephens and CNN’s Bianna Golodryga were listed, according toThe Washington Post.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Freeman was barred because in a September 2017 video, he accused “Russia of conspiring against the United States and calling for a fight against our country,” according to USA Today.
In response to the list, several banned Americans posted on social media, including Psaki.
“I guess we will have to cancel our August family trip to Moscow …” she joked onTwitter.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
