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Estonia Backs Finland’s Call for EU-Wide Ban on Russian Tourist Visas
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Estonia has joined Finland’s call for the European Union to suspend tourist visas for Russian citizens and impose broader entry restrictions while Russia continues its war against Ukraine, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated in a post on X on October 13.
Tsahkna was responding to Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, who called on EU member states to support a letter to the European Commission seeking a complete ban on Russian tourist visas for the duration of Russia’s war.
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Russia has also intensified sabotage, espionage, cyberattacks, and other hybrid operations across Europe since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In October, Ukraine’s military intelligence warned that Russian intelligence services were preparing further operations across EU and NATO countries aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and weakening allied capabilities.
“Estonia joins Finland’s call to suspend tourist visas for Russian citizens across the European Union,” Tsahkna wrote.
Estonia joins Finland’s call to suspend tourist visas for Russian citizens across the European Union.
— Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) October 13, 2026
As Russia continues its relentless assault on Ukraine, bombing cities, destroying civilian infrastructure, and killing innocent people, it is unacceptable that Russian citizens… https://t.co/W1oFgLqm2D
“As Russia continues its relentless assault on Ukraine, bombing cities, destroying civilian infrastructure, and killing innocent people, it is unacceptable that Russian citizens can still enjoy unrestricted leisure travel within the Schengen area,” he added.
Tsahkna argued that EU visa policy should reflect the scale of Russia’s aggression and called for further pressure on the Kremlin.
“Visa policy must reflect the gravity of Russia’s ongoing aggression. The EU should continue to strengthen pressure on the Kremlin through all available means,” he wrote.
The Estonian foreign minister also urged the EU to adopt the measures needed to establish what he described as “a comprehensive entry ban on Russian combatants.”
In her original post, Valtonen called for a complete EU-wide ban on Russian tourist visas, noting that Finland had already stopped issuing visas for non-essential travel to Russian citizens in 2022.
We must stop issuing tourist visas for Russian citizens across the EU.
— Elina Valtonen (@elinavaltonen) October 12, 2026
I have invited other EU Member States to join a letter addressed to the European Commission. I am calling for a complete EU ban on Russian tourist visas for as long as Russia continues its war of aggression.…
“We must stop issuing tourist visas for Russian citizens across the EU,” Valtonen wrote. “I am calling for a complete EU ban on Russian tourist visas for as long as Russia continues its war of aggression.”
“It is not right that Russians can travel to Europe to enjoy the way of life and freedoms here while their country bombs the homes of Ukrainians,” she added.
Valtonen also called for a Schengen visa ban targeting the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, tighter restrictions on Russian athletes, and stronger enforcement of existing visa restrictions on Russian combatants.
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Finland has maintained stricter visa rules for Russian citizens since 2022, and Valtonen is now seeking to extend that approach across the EU. Her proposal would require coordinated action by member states and the European Commission.
In September, US prosecutors charged five alleged members of a Russian intelligence network accused of recruiting operatives for assassinations, arson attacks, and other violent plots in the US and Europe. Investigators linked the network to planned operations in Lithuania and Prague, while stating that countries supporting Ukraine were among its targets.
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