The European Council is developing a package of proposals to introduce entry restrictions to EU countries for Russian citizens who have taken part in the war against Ukraine. This was announced by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
According to her, the relevant measures could be put forward for consideration as early as the June session of the EU Council. Kallas emphasized that Russia continues to deliberately destroy Ukrainian cultural heritage: striking museums, demolishing churches, and systematically seeking to erase Ukrainian identity.
The measures are expected to target specific categories of individuals — military personnel who participated in combat operations on Ukrainian territory, as well as those who facilitated the conduct of military operations. The exact selection criteria are still being refined through consultations among EU member states.
The initiative fits within the European Union’s broader strategy of increasing pressure on Moscow and ensuring personal accountability for those involved in the aggression. The EU has previously introduced restrictions on issuing visas to Russian citizens; however, the new measures envisage a targeted approach — aimed specifically at participants in the war, rather than Russians in general.
The final decision will depend on reaching consensus among the bloc’s member states, which is traditionally one of the key conditions for adopting such decisions within the EU.