The Baltic States, Northern Europe and Poland have declared their intention to maintain restrictions on entering the Schengen area for Russian citizens who participated in the war against Ukraine, even after the termination of active fighting. This position was announced during a meeting of internal affairs ministers in Tallinn, reports ERR.
The participants of the meeting stressed that Europe should remain consistent in their answers to military aggression. The ministers agreed that the Russians who participated in the fighting on the side of the aggressor country should not have the right to move freely in Europe, receive residence or visas.
Polish Interior Minister Igor Tarot stated that hundreds of thousands of Russians fought against a sovereign European state, and therefore should be banned from entry:
"These people cannot travel freely to the Schengen area. We will not give them a visa, we will not give them residence permits. This group poses a real threat to safety for all of us."
The meeting was also attended by the Commission of the European Commission on Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and a representative of the Frontex Border Agency.
