EU to Sanction 200 Russian Entities After Entry Bans

The European Union will approve a new sanctions package against Russia on Monday, targeting 50 banks and 150 additional entities. Benjamin Haddad, France's Minister for European Affairs, announced the plan on Thursday, stating that France proposed the majority of the entities to maintain economic pressure on Russia and support Ukraine.

The sanctions follow a Wednesday decision by Russia to ban two French lawmakers, Sacha Houlie and Arthur Delaporte, and two journalists, Ariane Chemin and Paul Gogo, from entering the country. Minister Haddad characterized these bans as "intimidation."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that the Kremlin's justification for the bans—which cited the July expulsion of Xenia Fedorova from France—confirms Fedorova's ties to Russian authorities. Fedorova, a former chief of RT France, had previously been accused by French authorities of spreading Russian misinformation.