EU sanctions former RT France chief over pro-Kremlin narratives in France and bloc

The European Union on Thursday imposed sanctions on Xenia Fedorova, the former head of RT France, accusing her of disseminating pro-Kremlin narratives in France and across the bloc in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Council of the European Union added Fedorova to its sanctions list, freezing her assets across all 27 member states and banning her from entering or transiting through EU territory. The decision extends measures France had already imposed, including an expulsion order issued on July 29 and a six-month asset freeze, both of which she unsuccessfully challenged in court.
According to the EU’s Official Journal, Fedorova is accused of relaying narratives aligned with Russian authorities, including portraying Western support for Ukraine as prolonging the war and questioning accounts of the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. The Council noted she continued spreading such narratives after RT France’s closure, appearing regularly on French media outlets owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, including CNews, Europe 1, and Le Journal du Dimanche.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the EU’s move on Wednesday, framing it as an extension of France’s earlier actions. Fedorova, who led RT France from 2017 until its shutdown, had remained in France after the channel’s ban, transitioning to commentary roles in mainstream media.
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