EU Weighs Entry Ban for Russian Soldiers Who Fought in Ukraine

The European Union is weighing a proposal to bar Russian soldiers who fought in Ukraine from entering the bloc, according to Euronews on January 29. 

Estonia raised the idea for discussion at an EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday, Euronews reported, with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna arguing that a coordinated EU approach was needed to blacklist Russian veterans after the war.

“We have close to one million combatants in Russia. They’re mainly criminals. They are very dangerous people,” Tsahkna said, adding: “There can be no path from Bucha to Brussels.” 

Euronews said Tsahkna’s push follows Estonia’s decision earlier this month to impose a permanent entry ban on 261 Russian nationals who fought in Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters after Thursday’s meeting that “many member states” had backed taking the idea forward, saying it “poses a clear security risk to Europe,” and that ministers agreed to continue sounding out governments. 

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Euronews added the next steps were unclear and noted the European Commission coordinates visa policy, while any broad blacklist would face practical hurdles given the scale of Russia’s forces in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, it was reported that foreign fighters, including Serbian nationalist volunteers who have served with Russian units in Ukraine, could pose instability risks when returning home

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