News - Middle East: Russia has banned British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several other top UK officials from entering the country against the backdrop of London imposing sanctions on Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday the decision had been made in retaliation for the UK government’s "hostile" stance on the war in Ukraine.

“London's unbridled information and political campaign aimed at isolating Russia internationally, creating conditions for containing our country and strangling the domestic economy” were responsible for its decision, the ministry said.

“In essence, the British leadership is deliberately aggravating the situation around Ukraine, pumping the Kiev regime with lethal weapons and coordinating similar efforts on the part of NATO.”

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace have been barred alongside 10 other senior politicians – mostly members of the Cabinet – including Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Conservative MP and former British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Moscow imposed a similar ban against US President Joe Biden in March.