While Russia’s attacks against Ukraine continued, some European Union (EU) member countries, especially Ukraine, brought up a visa ban for all Russian citizens.
Expressing that they will not unanimously support the visa ban on Russian citizens at the meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers this weekend, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) Foreign Relations and Security Policy, told the Austrian press, “It will help to cut off relations with the Russian civilian population and this idea will have the necessary unanimity. I don’t think he will have it,” he said.
“I think we should reconsider the way some Russians get visas, definitely not oligarchs. We should be more selective. But I’m not in favor of stopping all Russian visas,” Borrell said.
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski called on EU countries a few weeks ago and asked them to impose a visa ban on Russian citizens. Some EU leaders, such as Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, have also called for an EU-wide visa ban. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on the other hand, opposed the visa ban and stated that Russians should be able to flee their homeland if they do not agree with the regime.
ESTONIA HAS A VISA RESTRICTION TO RUSSIAN CITIZENS
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu announced that as of August 18, Russian citizens who obtained a Schengen visa through Estonia will be banned from entering the country. means,” he said.
Reinsalu also stated that the Schengen visa obtained through Estonia will continue to be valid in other EU countries.