Russia bars entry to more EU officials in response to latest sanctions

MOSCOW, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Moscow has largely expanded the blacklist of European Union (EU) officials banned from entering Russia in response to Brussels' 20th sanctions package against Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The EU continues its attempts to pressure Russia by scaling up unilateral restrictive measures, the ministry said in a statement, adding that Brussels' destructive actions grossly violate the norms of international law.

"We have also imposed restrictive measures against civil society activists and academics in European countries who hold hostile positions toward Russia, as well as members of national parliaments of EU member states and the European Parliament who voted in favor of anti-Russian resolutions and bills," said the statement.

Russia has also barred entry to representatives of European institutions and EU member states involved in decisions on providing military aid to Ukraine, it added.

European Council President Antonio Costa said on Thursday that the EU has approved a 90-billion-euro (105 billion U.S. dollars) loan package for Ukraine, along with a 20th round of sanctions against Russia. Enditem