Ukrainian foreign minister urges Europe to ban visas for Russians: "This is a matter of national security"
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on Europe to close its borders to citizens of Russia.
Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), reported by European Pravda
Details: Sybiha stated that the step is needed to protect Europe.
Quote: "Russian combatants and their family members should not be allowed to enter the EU. We need real entry bans as soon as possible."
Details: Sybiha said he believes a pan-European initiative would be especially timely right now, as Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is "grabbing new cannon fodder off the streets".
Quote: "Every Russian man recruited to fight against Ukraine should know: by signing a contract with the invading army, he is also signing a ban on entering Europe and the rest of the world. Non-essential visas for Russian nationals must be restricted to the maximum extent across all European states. This is a matter of national security for every European country."
Details: The foreign minister also emphasised that Russian diplomats should not have the ability to move freely across Europe either.
Quote: "Russia's attacks on Europe are no longer merely hybrid. They are growing in intensity and scale. This demands urgent action. Only tough pressure can stop Putin."
Background:
- Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen recently called on EU member states to suspend the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens until the conclusion of the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Estonia joined this call, and Lithuania said it would continue to push for a ban on tourist visas for Russian citizens.
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