Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga expressed support for the idea of a complete ban on entry to the European Union for Russian citizens who participated in combat actions against Ukraine. He made this proposal on February 9, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the security of European countries.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Long-Term Security of Europe and Consequences for Russians
According to Sybiga, implementing such a ban would strengthen the national security of EU states and provide additional protection for citizens against potential threats from “Russian bandits.” The minister stressed that this decision would serve as a warning to Russian citizens:
“Secondly, it will establish the right price for the wrong choice: every Russian who signs a contract to invade Ukraine will know that they are also signing a lifelong ban on entry to Europe,” Sybiga added.
The Role of Estonia and Further Actions by the EU
Sybiga noted Estonia’s initiative, which has already implemented relevant restrictions at the national level, demonstrating the effectiveness of such a mechanism. The minister urged EU countries to extend this practice across the entire European Union and to take this issue seriously in order to strengthen collective security.
Estonia is actively promoting the idea of banning entry to the Schengen Area for Russian military personnel who participated in the war against Ukraine. The corresponding proposal was outlined in a discussion paper that was circulated to the capitals of EU countries at the end of January. This issue was already discussed during the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on January 29.