War in Ukraine: The 27 EU countries are divided over the ban on Russians entering their territory

Divided as everything shows are the EU countries regarding the banning Russians from entering their territory despite Ukraine’s appeals and while o war to be continued.

“The EU should not be seen to disagree on the issue of banning Russian tourists from entering its territory” pointed out on Wednesday (31/8) the head of European diplomacy Joseph Borelcalling on member countries to find common ground.

“We need to reach an agreement and a political decision,” Borrell told reporters on the sidelines of the second day of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague.

“I will work for unity. We have no room for it to be seen that we disagree on such an important issue, which concerns the relations between peoples, between Russian society and European peoples”, he added, as reported by the Athens News Agency.

Borrell made the warning as foreign ministers are expected to agree in principle to suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Moscow, meaning Russians will have to wait longer and pay more for visa issuance.

Some European countries have already restricted the entry of Russian in their territory. Eastern European countries and the north are pushing for a total ban, while Germany and France have warned their partners that doing so would be counterproductive.

Ban from eastern countries

Some Eastern European countries say they will proceed with banning Russians from entering their territory, even if there is no agreement at EU level.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu, estimated that such a thing is necessary: ​​”Time is of the essence, and wasting time is paid for with the blood of Ukrainians».

“We are talking with the countries in our region and I believe that it is within our national competence, based on the principle of national security, to decide on the issues of entry into our territory,” he added.

Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland have drawn up a joint statement asking the European Commission to propose measures to “decisively reduce the inflow of Russian citizens into the EU and the Schengen area”, as reported by Financial Times.

“Until such measures come into force at EU level, we will consider adopting temporary measures at national level,” they added, according to the same img.

And Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba pressed for tougher measures, pointing out: “A visa ban on Russian tourists and some other charges will be a fitting response to Russia’s genocidal war of aggression in the heart of Europe supported by by an overwhelming majority of Russian citizens”.

However, the tone in Prague is generally more conciliatory.

“I think the most effective thing is for European countries to make decisions together,” said Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto.

And his German counterpart Analena Burbock warned against division. “We can be stronger together, but only if we think Europeanly and don’t retreat into nationalist shells.”