Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, almost one million Russians have entered the EU. Such data is provided by the dpa agency with reference to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Frontex.
From February 24 to August 22, 998,085 Russian citizens crossed EU borders, a Frontex spokesman told dpa. At the same time, over the past week, the number of Russians entering the European Union has slightly decreased.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a number of EU countries stopped or restricted the issuance of visas to Russians. Such measures have already been taken by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. Finland plans to join them in September, and Poland is also considering this possibility. Denmark insists on making a pan-European decision on visas for Russians. These countries are also in favor of a complete ban on the issuance of tourist Schengen visas to Russians. At the same time, some EU countries do not support this idea, among them – Germany, Greece, Hungary and Portugal. The idea to ban the issuance of visas to Russians did not support and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
According to Bloomberg, the Czech Republic, which currently presides over the EU, will offer the EU countries a “compromise option” – not to stop issuing visas, but to completely abolish the simplified procedure for obtaining Schengen visas by citizens of Russia and Belarus.
If the measure is passed, Russians and Belarusians will still be able to apply for visas. However, for this they will need more documents, the time for their consideration will increase, and the visa fee will increase from 35 to 80 euros.
- In early August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with the Washington Post, called on the West to ban all Russians from entering its territory. Zelensky called this “the only way to influence Putin” and stop the fighting on Ukrainian territory.
- A broad public discussion unfolded around this proposal. The issue will be discussed at a meeting of the Council of the European Union at the end of August.