Russia’s foreign ministry announced on Friday, February 23, 2024, that it had significantly expanded a list of EU officials and politicians banned from entering Russia in response to the latest round of sanctions by the bloc.

The Ministry said that Moscow considers the sanctions of the European Union illegal, undermining the international legal prerogatives of the UN Security Council.

“The European Union is continuing its fruitless attempts to put pressure on Russia through unilateral restrictive measures,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

It added that the sanctions were in response to these unfriendly actions.

“The Russian retaliatory ‘stop list’ also includes representatives of the Council of Europe, members of the legislative assemblies of European Union countries, members of the OSCE PA (Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe), who systematically make aggressive statements against Russia,” the statement said.

“We confirm that any unfriendly actions by Western countries will continue to receive a timely and adequate response,” the ministry said.

EU member states approved a 13th package of Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, banning nearly 200 entities and individuals accused of helping Moscow procure weapons or of involvement in kidnapping Ukrainian children, something Moscow denies.

On Friday, the EU announced that it would impose sanctions on several foreign companies over allegations that they have exported dual-use goods to Russia that could be used in its war against Ukraine.

The 27-nation bloc also said that it was targeting scores of Russian officials including “members of the judiciary, local politicians and people responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children.”

It is the 13th package of measures imposed by EU against people and organisations it suspects of undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The package was timed to mark the second anniversary of the Russian invasion.

“Today, we are further tightening the restrictive measures against Russia’s military and defence sector,” EU foreign policy Chief, Josep Borrell said.

Borrell stated, “We remain united in our determination to dent Russia’s war machine and help Ukraine win its legitimate fight for self-defence.”

Council Of Europe Confirms “Unwavering Support” For Ukraine

Europe’s highest rights body on Friday reiterated its “unwavering support” for Ukraine on the eve of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its pro-western neighbour.

“We mark an anniversary that no one of wanted to see,” Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, said.

Buric added, “Our thoughts today are with the Ukrainian people.”

The Council of Europe, which comprises 46 member states, was set up to monitor and uphold human rights in Europe after World War II. Members kicked out Russia after its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

The council’s commissioner for human rights, Dunja Mijatovic, said “serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law” continued to be committed. “Every effort must be made to hold accountable those responsible for all human rights violations and crimes committed in this war,” she said.

Last year the council agreed to create a register of claims for reparations towards damages inflicted in the war. From late April, Ukrainians will be able to register their claims online using an existing government app called Diia, where they can already report Russian soldiers.