First Lady Jill Biden & First Daughter Ashley Biden Banned From Russia

The Russian government sanctioned the first lady, Jill Biden, and the Bidens’ daughter, Ashley Biden, in a new escalation between the White House and Kremlin.

Both individuals are barred from entering Russia, along with 25 other U.S citizens, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. They are joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

The Russian Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement that the move was retaliation against U.S-led sanctions.

In their statement, Russian officials misspelled President Joe Biden’s name, with “John” written instead of “Joe.”

“As a response to the ever-expanding U.S. sanctions against Russian political and public figures, 25 American citizens from among the senators responsible for the formation of the Russophobic course, participants in the so-called the McFaul-Yermak group, which develops recommendations on anti-Russian restrictions, as well as members of the family of President John Biden,” the Russian foreign ministry wrote in the statement.

National Security adviser Jake Sullivan blasted the move as “cynical.”

 “I have no reaction to that other than it just goes to show you that the Russian capacity for these kinds of cynical moves is basically bottomless, so it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of us that they would do something like this,” Sullivan stated.

The sanctions on U.S. politicians come after Russia defaulted on its loan payments for the first time since 1918. In another blow to Russia, Turkey has removed its veto for Sweden and Finland to formally join NATO. After a four-hour discussion in Madrid, Turkey was given assurances on trade and restrictions on Kurdish military groups.