Russia bans 963 Americans, including President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken, from entering
Russia said on Saturday that it had decided to ban 963 Americans from entering its territory, led by President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and CIA Director William Burns.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also announced a ban on entry to Russian territory for the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Sophie Trudeau, the commander of the Canadian Air Force, Eric Jean Kenny, and 24 other people, including officials.
"In response to the anti-Russian sanctions announced by the Canadian authorities, which affected not only representatives of the leading, military and commercial circles, but also relatives of those who were blacklisted... a similar category of Canadian citizens was banned from entering Russian territory," the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The ministry pointed out that the list included senior Canadian officials, their relatives and friends, and senior managers of the military industrial complex, the shipbuilding industry, and the leadership of the armed forces.
The list includes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife Sophie, Canadian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Eric Jean Kenny, Canadian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Angus Ian Topshey, Canadian Army Commander Lieutenant General Jocelyn Poole and others.
The travel ban has only a symbolic effect, but is part of the continuing deterioration in Russia's relations with the United States and its allies since the start of its military operation in Ukraine on February 24.
Russia and several European countries have previously expelled diplomats and denied entry
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