Ukraine imposed sanctions on former president and opposition politician Petro Poroshenko, including an asset freeze and a ban on withdrawing capital from the country, for what the domestic spy agency said on Thursday were "national security" reasons.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday signed off on sanctions against former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and other prominent Russia-leaning officials.

Chocolate baron and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, a political opponent and longtime nemesis of Zelenskyy, was sanctioned on suspicion of “high treason” and assisting a terrorist organization — prompting criticism and allegations of a “politically motivated” witch hunt.