Ireland is on the list.
Vladimir Putin is set to sign a decree that will outlaw citizens of countries deemed “unfriendly” to Russia from entering the country, including Ireland.
In a televised address on Monday (28 March), Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said that Putin will sign the decree as a retort to the ongoing sanctions imposed on his country.
Earlier this month, Ireland was included on an official Russian government list of countries deemed unfriendly to the nation.
The far-ranging list includes all countries in the European Union in addition to the USA, the UK, Japan, Australia and plenty more.
The countries and regions were highlighted for either imposing or endorsing sanctions levelled against Russia following its military invasion of Ukraine in February.
Russian government communication continues to refer to the invasion as a “special military operation”.
The full list of “unfriendly” countries is as follows:
- All countries in the European Union
- Australia
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Iceland
- Canada
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Korea
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Ukraine
- Montenegro
- Switzerland
- Japan
According to the Russian government, the countries listed have committed unfriendly actions against Russia, its companies and its citizens.
Russian authorities have encouraged the country’s citizens to pay any debts to foreign creditors in roubles.
Lavrov says Putin will sign a decree restricting entry into Russia for citizens of "unfriendly countries" in response to western sanctions.
That's the US, the UK, Canada, all of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and a few others besides. pic.twitter.com/SF6qD7VSxr
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 28, 2022
Negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials are due to continue in Turkey on Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signalled his willingness to discuss the potential for Ukraine adopting a “neutral status” and to make certain compromises in a bid to bring an end to the conflict.
However, Zelensky has ruled out the possibility of Ukrainian demilitarisation and has indicated that any such neutral status eventuality would require a public referenum.
Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, has said that a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin would be “counter-productive” and thus is unlikely to occur.
President Zelensky is due to address Ireland’s Houses of the Oireachtas on Monday, 6 April.
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