The West African country has deepened its Soviet-era ties to Russia as its relationship soured this year with its long-time ally and former colonial ruler, France.
The top NATO official also warned of the increased threat Russia posed to Norway, in view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Biden administration has imposed fresh economic sanctions on pro-Kremlin oligarchs and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s purported girlfriend.
Putin says Russia is not threatened by Finland and Sweden joining NATO, but that Russia will, however, take military countermeasures.
The president himself, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and hundreds of lawmakers are already on the blacklist.
“Stop the invasion,” the 81-year-old Pele said in a letter to Putin he posted on Instagram.
Russia says that the people on the list had no good intentions for the country and “incite Russophobia”.
Russia said it was protecting its interests with the invasion of Ukraine and that its voice will be heard in the end.
UN humanitarians said no fewer than 870,000 people who fled abroad since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 had returned home.
President Volodymyr Zelensky maintained that Ukraine will not discuss certain Russian demands, like demilitarisation.
