EU Considers Tougher Visa Restrictions For Russians - Kallas

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said this during an address to the European Parliament, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Kallas stressed that EU sanctions had already cost the Russian economy EUR 1 trillion and said that the EU was finalizing what she described as the largest-ever list of individual and corporate restrictions. She added that the EU was also systematically dismantling Russia's shadow fleet, with EU naval operations taking the initiative in inspecting suspicious vessels. According to Kallas, the EU's diplomatic efforts around the world had resulted in fewer countries allowing the tankers to sail under their flags, and hundreds of vessels had already been stripped of their flags as a result.

Speaking about diplomatic pressure and restrictions on the movement of Russian citizens, the EU's foreign policy chief said that further decisive action was needed.

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Kallas said that the EU had already reduced Russia's diplomatic presence in the bloc, introduced new requirements for movement within the Schengen Area, and limited the staff of Russia's mission to the EU to 40 people. She noted that member states were taking similar measures and pointed out that Hungary had recently expelled 10 Russian diplomats. However, she said there was still potential to do more, including further tightening controls on the movement of Russian diplomats within the Schengen Area, banning visas for Russian former combatants, and reviewing the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens. Kallas emphasized that the EU needed to reduce the number of people who could potentially carry out attacks on European territory.

As Ukrinform reported, the EU has stepped up measures aimed at countering Russian sabotage networks and expelling Russian diplomatic mission personnel who have used diplomatic cover for malicious activities.

In particular, Hungary's expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats was one of the latest steps aimed at neutralizing this threat. At the same time, Brussels is discussing the need for a complete entry ban on Russian military personnel and veterans of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, as well as closing channels used to circumvent oil sanctions.

Photo: AA

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