EU to limit Russian diplomatic mission to 40 staff and bar entry to former Russian soldiers – EU chief diplomat

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has announced that the EU will limit the size of the Russian diplomatic mission to 40 people and is developing measures to prevent former Russian military personnel from entering the Schengen zone.

Source: Kallas's remarks following the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting

Quote: "I have also decided to limit the maximum size of the Russian mission in the European Union to 40 people. We will not tolerate abuse of diplomatic power and together with the Commission we are working to keep potentially hundreds of thousands of former Russian soldiers out of the Schengen area. We do not want war criminals and saboteurs to roam our streets."

Details: Kallas also focused on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), noting that modern warfare is not only fought with weapons but also with "lies and algorithms".

She stressed that Russia plans to spend billions on influence campaigns this year and called for moving from passive monitoring to actively countering hostile online activities. She highlighted the need to strengthen sanctions against disinformation networks and enhance cooperation with law enforcement to protect democracies.

Background:

• The EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting took place on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• Several European countries have reduced Russia's diplomatic presence amid espionage concerns.
• The EU has repeatedly documented attempts by Russia and China to interfere in democratic processes through disinformation campaigns.

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