EU bans seven Russian banks, including VTB, from SWIFT

The ambassadors of the European Union have agreed to ban seven Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system.

That's according to Bloomberg, Ukrinform reports.

These are VTB Bank, Bank Rossiya, Bank Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank PJSC, Sovcombank PJSC and VEB.RF.

Some countries, including Poland, had pushed for more banks to be included in the measure, they said.

The list could still be changed before it formally comes into force.