Eight European nations have appealed to the leadership of the European Union to implement a ban on entry for Russian citizens who participated in combat operations. This was reported by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Joint Initiative of European Leaders
The leaders of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Germany, Romania, and Sweden have addressed European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the threats that may arise from the movement of former Russian combatants into the Schengen Area. They emphasized the need for urgent and coordinated actions to prevent potential security risks for all EU member states.
“We believe that one of the most serious and enduring risks is the potential movement of former and current Russian combatants into the Schengen Area. Any entry of such individuals could have serious consequences for the security of all EU member states,” Nausėda stated.
In response to these challenges, the President of Lithuania called for strict and coordinated measures at the EU level.
Estonia’s Experience and the Scale of the Problem
Estonia implemented a lifelong entry ban on approximately 1,500 Russian military personnel who participated in the war against Ukraine as early as March 5, and is urging other EU countries to join this initiative. Furthermore, Estonia is actively promoting the idea of banning entry for Russian military personnel across the entire Schengen Area, which has already become a topic of discussion among EU foreign ministers.
According to Tallinn, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, about 1.5 million citizens of the Russian Federation have been involved in combat operations. Among them are both regular armed forces and participants in controlled formations, including the Wagner Group. It is estimated that around 640,000 individuals are currently directly involved in combat operations, while nearly one million former fighters may be subject to future restrictions from the EU.
The initiative has also received support in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha emphasized that such a step would strengthen the long-term security of European states, protect their citizens from “Russian bandits,” and serve as a clear signal of accountability for participation in the war against Ukraine.