Russia sanctions more than 2 dozen US citizens

WASHINGTON - The Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday it sanctioned more than two-dozen U.S. citizens, including Vice President Kamala Harris, by denying entry into the country.

In a statement, the ministry said that the move comes in response to the growing anti-Russian sanctions brought by the Biden administration that have targeted Moscow officials and their families, as well as scientists, businessmen and cultural figures.

Several U.S. officials are on the list of 29 citizens who have been banned from traveling to Russia, including White House chief of staff Ronald Klain, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Holland Hicks, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby, State Department spokesperson Ned Price and Doug Emhoff, Harris husband.

The Russian government sanctioned some prominent U.S. businesspeople, including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Bank of America CEO Brian Thomas Moynihan, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky and several heads of major defense companies. Journalists and media personalities on the list include ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius and CNN senior international analyst Bianna Golodryga.

Russia had previously imposed sanctions banning American officials from entering the country in March. The round included President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Biden announced a substantial $1.3 billion aid package to Ukraine, including $800 million in heavy artillery weapons, including 72 Howitzers and 144,000 rounds of ammunition, along with 121 tactical ghost drones, was a result of the new sanctions. The U.S. plans to provide another $500 million in humanitarian and economic assistance.