The European Union may ban the entry of Russian military personnel involved in the war against Ukraine. This possibility was announced by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas.
The proposed measure would add Russian fighters to the Schengen prohibition list, preventing them from entering EU member states.
How Would the EU Entry Ban for Russian Military Personnel Work in Practice?
At a press briefing, one of the journalists asked her:
“Madame Kallas, we know that in the 21st package of sanctions there is a ban for Russian fighters to enter the EU, but how do you see this could work in practice? Because it sounds good, but how to do that in practice?”
Kaja Kallas replied:
“We of course have also the intelligence of the people who have participated in the war, and so it is like adding those to the Schengen prohibition list, so that they cannot enter Europe. I am not an expert on the visa and on these issues, but as our experts say it is doable.”
Scale of Russian Military Involvement in Ukraine
In June 2024, the Russian president announced that 700,000 military personnel were participating in the fighting on the part of Russia.
