Russia says latest UK sanctions ‘illegitimate’

LONDON: Russia’s embassy in London said Britain’s new package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine was “illegitimate” and many of those targeted had no connection to the conflict.

Britain on Monday announced what it said was its largest package of sanctions against Russia since the early days of the war in Ukraine, including companies worldwide that supply components used by the Russian military.

The Russian embassy called the measures “futile” in a statement posted on Facebook said on Tuesday.

“The moment chosen by London to whip up the sanctions hysteria is quite symbolic — at a delicate time when the foundations of the future Ukraine settlement process are being shaped in line with the Russia-US agreements,” the statement said.

Russia sanctions UK politicians and journalists

Britain’s sanctions package, timed to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, also targeted North Korea’s defence minister No Kwang Chol over the deployment of North Korean forces in Russia, and Kyrgyzstan-based Keremet Bank.

In 2023, Russia too banned 54 British nationals and people working for UK organisations from entering the country in retaliation for UK sanctions on its citizens, its foreign ministry says.

They include Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan.

A number of journalists from the BBC, the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian are also on the list.

The BBC said it would “continue to report independently and fairly”.

The Russian foreign ministry said the move was in response to “the aggressive implementation by London of a hostile anti-Russian course”.

Ms Frazer was sanctioned for “actively lobbying for the international sports isolation of Russia”, while Minister of State for Defence Annabel Goldie was described as being “responsible for the supply of weapons to Ukraine”.