BREAKING NEWS

Russia ban's former US ambassador to Moscow from entering Russia

Russia has banned Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Moscow under President Barack Obama, from entering the country, McFaul and Russian Foreign Ministry sources said.

Russia has a travel ban in place on some US officials in retaliation for a US ban on Russian officials entering the United States.

McFaul, US ambassador in Moscow from 2012-2014, said he had learnt of the ban when applying for a visa to Russia to help defeated presidential candidate Hillary Clinton prepare for what he thought would be her transition to the White House.