Britain sanctions persons close to Russian president, five banks

The UK is imposing sanctions against five Russian banks. They are Rossiya, Promsvyazbank, Industrial Savings Bank, Black Sea Development and Reconstruction Bank, and Genbank, as well as against businessmen Gennady Timchenko, Boris, and Igor Rotenberg close to the Russian president.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this in parliament, Report informs citing the BBC.

All assets of these people and banks in Britain will be frozen, Rotenberg and Timchenko will be denied entry to the UK, in addition, all British companies and subjects will be prohibited from any cooperation with them.

Johnson noted that this is only the "first tranche" of sanctions that his government is ready to impose and other restrictions can be introduced if necessary.

He also said that Europe should prepare for a full-scale Russian military offensive against Ukraine, and warned that in the worst case, the European country of 44 million people will become the target of aggression, launched without any justification. The prime minister urged everyone to try to find a peaceful way out of the current crisis.

"We will continue to seek a diplomatic solution to the last possible moment, but we must take note that none of our messages have been heeded to," Johnson said in the House of Commons.