Russia announced today that the European Union banfor Russians to bring their cars and some personal goods into EU territory, it’s racist and an ally of President Vladimir Putin suggested cutting off all diplomatic relations in response.

In an explanatory note on the sanctions it imposes over the war in Ukraine, the European Commission says Russians are temporarily banned from bringing some personal items or vehicles into the EU.

The annex accompanying the memo also appears to ban the importation of a range of items that could be dual-use, along with more common items such as make-up, toothpaste, deodorants, toilet paper and mobile phones.

“This is just racism,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said of the commission’s advice. “This is pure and simple racism.”

The former president of Russia Dmitry Menvedev said that the EU has just spat in the face of all Russianssaying they are treated as “subhumans with bad heredity”.

“What do we have to do; Certainly not to introduce reprisals for EU citizens, we are not racist,” Medvedev said. “It would be better to just suspend diplomatic relations with the EU for a while.”

Penalties

The West has imposed severe sanctions on Russia following Putin’s decision to send troops to Ukraine in 2022. Moscow claims that the sanctions and the freezing of Russian assets are tantamount to a declaration of economic war.

The Kremlin has vowed that Russia, whose economy is projected to grow this year, will never bow to the West over Ukraine.

In a question and answer fact sheet, the European Commission is asked: “May Russian nationals temporarily transport personal goods and vehicles listed in Annex XXI and subject to the prohibition of Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No. 3i of Council Regulation 833/2014 in the Union, e.g. for tourist trips?’

“No. Article 3i of Council Regulation 833/2014 prohibits the purchase, import or transfer, directly or indirectly, of the goods listed in Annex XXI of the Regulation, if they originate in Russia or are exported from Russia. This includes motor vehicles (cars) falling under SN code 8703.’

Asked about the application of the rules, a representative of the European Commission said that clothes worn by someone crossing the border are not subject to the existing sanctions.

“This is something different from an expensive car,” the spokesman said.

Some Russians say the West has at times played the Kremlin’s game, portraying all Russian citizens as enemies to be punished and ostracized for a war they have no say in.

The Kremlin says Russians are being illegally discriminated against in the West amid a wave of Russophobia.