The list already includes all EU countries, which are required by Russia to pay for Russian goods in rubles, a request that most countries have been unwilling to comply with. The demand for ruble payments is aimed in particular at strengthening the currency and providing hard currency to Russian banks that have been cut off from international financial networks by the sanctions. The change in status of Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia focuses on the ability of their embassies in Russia to recruit local staff, something Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. called it a further step.
Under the new rules, Croatia and Slovenia are no longer allowed to employ Russians in their embassies, while the other three countries are subject to stricter conditions. Mr Peskov said further restrictions might emerge. He said the new diplomatic sanction was the result of unfriendly policies by those countries, but did not elaborate.
Russia began drawing up its list of hostile countries last year, which initially included only the Czech Republic and the United States. It has since spread to all nations that imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
