INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia on Thursday slapped travel bans on United States Vice President Kamala Harris, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and dozens of
prominent Americans and Canadians in retaliation for sanctions imposed over Ukraine.The Russian foreign ministry said the travel
"Russophobic" policies.In Washington, one of the officials targeted, State Department spokesman Ned Price, said that the travel ban was "an
honor.""I have to say it is nothing less than an accolade to have earned the ire of a government that lies to its own people, brutalizes its
neighbors and seeks to create a world where freedom and liberty are put on the run and, if they had their way, extinguished," Price told
reporters.Asked if he had to cancel any travel plans to Russia, Price quipped: "Fortunately I had no rubles and even if I did they would be
worthless by now anyway."The United States has led international efforts to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia over its military operation
in Ukraine, causing tumult in its economy.The United States and European Union have personally sanctioned a number of Russians including
President Vladimir Putin, his daughters and oligarchs seen as crucial to the Russian leader's power.Other Americans banned Thursday by
Russia include ABC News television presenter George Stephanopoulos, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius and the Russia-focused Meduza
news site's editor Kevin Rothrock.The United States defense officials include Pentagon spokesman John Kirby and Deputy Secretary of
Defense Kathleen Hicks.The list of Canadians is headed by Cameron Ahmad, who serves as director of communications to Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau, and Canadian Special Operations Forces Commander Steve Boivin.Russia had earlier banned Facebook and Instagram, which form part of
Zuckerberg's Meta empire, calling them "extremist" organisations.
