Latvian PM criticises refusal to ban Russian servicemen from entering EU

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has sharply criticised the opposition to a complete ban on participants in Russia's war against Ukraine from entering the EU under the latest sanctions package.

Source: European Pravda, citing an interview with Andris Kulbergs by Politico

Quote from Kulbergs: "Are we nuts? We allow Russian military soldiers to be given visas, the ones killing [Ukrainians] on the field."

Details: The publication recalls that during discussions on the latest sanctions package, France and Italy opposed a complete ban on entry for Russian combatants. They argued that the issue should be addressed through EU visa rules rather than as part of the sanctions framework. Meanwhile, northern and eastern European countries pushed for tougher restrictions.

As a result, they reached an agreement on the legal and political framework for banning Russian combatants who have taken part in the war from entering the EU. However, EU member states retained the right to decide individually when the ban would come into force.

Kulbergs also criticised European Council President António Costa's decision to open a channel of communication with the Kremlin, saying that such a decision should be "a joint decision by all countries".

He described any attempts to establish contacts with Moscow as "a pointless exercise", arguing that there are no signs of Russian leader Vladimir Putin being ready for negotiations and that talks would merely give Russia "time to regroup" and make its "next move".

Despite Latvia having severed relations with Russia and Kulbergs taking a tough stance towards Moscow, he said that "we have to be open" to restoring relations once Russia pays reparations to Ukraine and those responsible for war crimes are brought to justice. He cited post-war Germany as an example to follow.

"Do we isolate Germany because of that? No, it's acceptance of guilt, acceptance of wrongdoing, punishment, and retribution," he said.

Kulbergs concluded that after a ceasefire, "the insecurity of the border will only rise", as a wave of migration could become a real threat: hundreds of thousands of "screwed up" soldiers would return from the battlefield in search of a better life, while other citizens would flee as Moscow's war economy collapsed.

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