Russia will retaliate if the European Union decides to suspend visas for Russians in response to Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, the Kremlin warned on Tuesday.
The warning comes as some countries want to ban Russian tourists from Europe, while others prefer a more symbolic measure, such as suspending an agreement that provides visa facilities for certain categories of Russians.
This debate will be the basis of the discussions of the foreign ministers of the EU member states, who will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in Prague. “We know that there are different views among Europeans, we will follow it carefully. This is a very serious decision that can be taken against our citizens, and such a decision cannot remain unanswered.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “In responding, we must ensure that we are best serving our interests and protecting the interests of our citizens. We do not yet know what measures are being takenthe Europeans will take it, he added.
“Little by little, Brussels, like the European capitals, is showing a complete lack of judgment (…) This irrationality, bordering on madness, allows such measures (on visas) to be discussed.“Dmitry Peksov started. European countries have already imposed several economic sanctions against Russia to punish Moscow for its attack on Ukraine.
As for visas, a total ban on Russians seems unlikely given the lack of consensus on the measure demanded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Such a ban on visas for Russian tourists for the Schengen zone, which would be an unprecedented measure, is especially demanded by the Baltic countries, but Germany is against it, and the European Commission is not in favor of it.
The 26 Schengen countries (22 EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) received three million short-term visa applications in 2021, all categories combined (tourism, studies, business trips…), Russians the most with 536,000 requests.
Source: Le Figaro
