Ukraine Crisis: EU-US Visa Bans to Target 13 Russian Politicians and Gazprom CEO

European and American sanctions on Russia if it continues on its course over Ukraine would include visa bans for 13 Russian politicians and businessmen, according to Brussels and Washington sources cited by Germany's Bild tabloid.

The list includes Defence minister Sergei Shoigu, deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin, head of presidential administration Sergei Ivanov, secretary of the National Security Council Nikolai Patrushev and other advisers close to the president Vladimir Putin.

The EU approved a framework of sanctions on Russia similar to that taken in Washington including travel bans and asset freezes on a list of people and firms accused of violating the integrity of Ukraine.

According to Bild, visa bans could also target Alexei Miller chief executive of Russian energy firm Gazprom, and Igor Sechin, head of Russia's top crude oil producer Rosneft.

British PM David Cameron said UK was supporting the imposition of a travel ban on senior Russian politicians. He stopped short of mentioning asset freezes or the military.

The travel ban would apply to visits to the EU, but Britain would like to extend it to other countries immediately. "I want to confirm we would be pushing within the EU for those travel bans to include some prominent Russian MPs. We have put that on the table. I am not naming names today."

He added the ban would be imposed on MPs who had been "pushing for the unacceptable steps that have been taken".

The EU measures will likely have a greater impact on Russia than the American ones, considering that the continent's €335bn (£280bn, $467bn) of trade with Russia in 2012 is worth about 10 times that of the US.

Europe buys most of Russia's oil and gas exports, with Germany, Italy and France being the top importers. Russian government officials and businessmen are getting ready for Iran-like sanctions, according to a Bloomberg report.

The ruble dropped 9.8% against the dollar this year and the yield on Russia's February 2027 ruble bond was unchanged from the record-high close of 9.36%.

The US Senate has approved the worst sanctions seen since the end of the Cold War and a bill authorising $1bn in loan guarantees to Ukraine's new government.