In the dispute over travel opportunities for Russians in the EU, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated his call for a travel ban. “It must be ensured that Russian murderers and supporters of state terror do not use Schengen visas,” he said in Kyiv on Friday evening.
The demand for travel restrictions for Russians comes mainly from the direct neighboring countries. Estonia and Latvia in the Baltic States have already tightened entry rules, and Finland is also considering doing so. Germany and the EU Commission in Brussels reject a fundamental freeze on tourist visas for Russians.
“Europe has banned air travel from Russia to Europe. This means that the only way Russians can get to Europe is through only three countries – Finland, Estonia and Latvia,” said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. “So it’s not really fair that all other Schengen countries issue these visas, but the three of us actually carry the burden.” Kallas referred to violent reactions in Moscow to the visa discussion. This shows that an entry ban can be an effective sanctions instrument.
