Kenneth Glad
Several governments want tighter entry rules as security worries grow during the war in Ukraine. The dispute centers on whether travel limits should target civilians as well as sanctioned figures.
A group of European countries is pressing Brussels to make it harder for Russian tourists to enter the Schengen area, arguing that leisure travel should not continue as usual while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.
According to Euronews, the initiative is led by Sweden and backed by Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Poland, along with Iceland and Norway.
The eleven governments sent a joint letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, asking for stricter and more consistent visa rules.
The letter argues that uneven application of EU guidance weakens solidarity between member states, creates unequal economic conditions and reduces European leverage over Moscow. The signatories also warn that different national practices can create risks across the passport-free Schengen zone.
Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell framed the demand in blunt terms before EU interior ministers met in Luxembourg.
“I want there to be no more shopping weekends. I want no more fancy trips to Europe while Ukrainians are dying on the battlefield,” he said.
Large issuing countries face scrutiny
The governments behind the appeal say visa figures show why the issue needs renewed attention. In 2025, Schengen countries issued more than 470,000 visas to Russian nationals, according to figures cited in the debate by Digi24 and The Moscow Times.
Euronews writes that France issued just under 180,000 visas to Russian citizens in 2025, the highest number in the bloc. Italy followed with just under 160,000, while Spain issued nearly 100,000.
Those countries are also among Europe’s biggest tourist destinations and generally handle larger numbers of visa applications than smaller member states. Critics of tougher restrictions argue that the figures partly reflect scale rather than political softness toward Moscow.
Supporters of new restrictions disagree. They want binding measures, closer monitoring of national practices, regular aggregated statistics and a clearer EU mechanism to block former Russian fighters from entering.
According to NL Times, Dutch Migration Minister Bart van den Brink said Sweden’s request was justified and warned that tourism revenue should not outweigh the political message being sent.
“It may well seem very good for the location, and the tourism economy of that country. But by doing this, we continue to send a somewhat mixed message to Russia,” he said.
Critics warn travel bans may backfire
The proposal has not united Europe. Some countries argue that the current sanctions system already targets the Russians most responsible for the war, including officials, business figures and people close to the Kremlin.
Opponents also say broad restrictions risk punishing civilians rather than decision-makers. Some diplomats believe travel to Europe can expose Russians to information and political views that are harder to find inside Russia.
That concern has also been raised by Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. In a September 2025 appeal cited by Digi24 and The Moscow Times, she warned that broad restrictions could help the Kremlin claim that the West is hostile to Russians as a people.
“To promote peace in Europe, it is counterproductive to help the Russian authorities isolate Russian society,” she wrote.
The European Union has already tightened visa policy since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including by suspending its visa facilitation agreement with Moscow. The Commission has also proposed ending, or sharply limiting, multiple-entry visas for most Russian citizens, citing security risks and Russian hybrid activity.
Brussels has not settled the question
Euronews says that the Luxembourg discussion did not produce a formal decision. The matter was raised among ministers but was not listed as a full agenda item.
The eleven-country coalition is now trying to push the European Commission and other EU institutions toward a new proposal. Any tougher system would need to address security concerns while avoiding legal inconsistencies between member states.
Forssell and his allies say the current situation cannot continue. Critics counter that isolating Russian society may serve Moscow’s message more than Europe’s interests.
For now, the dispute remains unresolved.
Sources: Euronews, Digi24, NL Times, The Moscow Times
