Moscow Ready to Expand EU Travel Ban List if West Ups Anti-Russia Sanctions

Maria Zakharova, the head of the Press and Information Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that Moscow blacklist is a response to the European Union and the United States sanctioning Russia.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Moscow is ready to expand its list of travel bans for EU officials should the West increase its own blacklist of Russian officials, the head of the Press and Information Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Last week, media reports emerged that EU member state embassies received a list of 89 politicians, diplomats and military experts banned from entering Russia. On Saturday, a Russian Foreign Ministry source confirmed those reports.

"We shall mirror any changes. This is called the principle of reciprocity. We cannot let ourselves be treated in an absolutely biased way," Maria Zakharova told Russian News Service radio.

According to Zakharova, the Moscow blacklist is a response to the European Union and the United States sanctioning Russia.

Zakharova added that Moscow would cancel its travel ban list as soon as the West does the same.

The European Union, the United States and a number of other countries imposed several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions for its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis. Entry bans for several Russian individuals accused of meddling in the crisis were part of the restrictions.