At midnight on Monday, four of the five member states of the European Union that border Russia started turning away Russian visitors, stating that they shouldn’t travel while their nation is at war with Ukraine.
Finland decided to remain open, albeit it has reduced the number of consular appointments accessible to Russian travellers seeking visas. As a result, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia implemented further limitations.
The action was the most recent in a string of sanctions and other measures implemented by the European Union or its member states since Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what it describes as a “special military operation.”
All flights from Russia are now prohibited by the EU, leaving only rail and road connections open. This month, the EU also decided to restrict the number of free Schengen zone visas that can be issued.
The entry ban that went into effect on Monday only applies to tourists and does not apply to Russian dissidents who are seeking asylum in the EU, lorry drivers, refugees, permanent residents of EU nations, or people who are only visiting family.
Russian citizens were rushing to enter Narva, an Estonian border town where more than 90% of the population speaks Russian, on a chilly and rainy Sunday before new regulations took effect.
According to officials, less than a tenth of the 4,000 Russians who enter Estonia daily will lose their right as a result of the new regulations.
Edgar Rinkevics, the foreign minister of Latvia, tweeted, “People of Russia, do not try to cross the border, you’re not welcome here – you need to cease the war against Ukraine and be gone from that wonderful country!
The EU is divided over the issue of travel, with cities like Berlin and Paris believing that a ban on common Russian citizens, as Kyiv has called for, would be counterproductive.
Finland warned such a restriction may go against the Schengen zone agreement that all nations honour visas granted by other countries in the zone. Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin had previously stated that Russian tourists shouldn’t travel to the EU during the war.
“A visa is granted by one nation and rejected by another. That’s undoubtedly not ideal for the system, “Sauli Niinisto, the president of Finland, spoke with reporters in Helsinki last week.
Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, voiced her displeasure with the divides within the EU and issued a warning that many Russian travellers will now aim for the Finnish border.
In an interview on Saturday, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said, “There is a loophole, and the loophole is Finland.” Therefore, it isn’t totally effective… yet, it’s still preferable to nothing ” she added. I hope they will have to do this as well sooner rather than later.”
Russia declared it would respond negatively to the restrictions but wouldn’t cut off relations with the bloc.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons
NEWS SOURCE: CRUCIAL NEWS GLOBAL
💫FOLLOW US FOR MORE UPDATES. ❌WE DO NOT HAVE IRRITATING AND SPAMMY NEWSLETTERS. ✅EVERYTHING IS AND WILL BE FREE FOREVER. SEE YOU AGAIN IN YOUR STORIES AND FEED 🙂
