Latvia’s prime minister urges total EU visa ban for Russian citizens amid war

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has called for a complete ban on visas for Russian citizens within the EU, criticizing the delay in imposing stricter restrictions. Kulbergs expressed disbelief that Russian military personnel, responsible for killing Ukrainians in the conflict, are still being granted visas. He urged EU governments to reconsider sending Ukraine the 210 billion euros in frozen Russian sovereign assets and dismissed concerns that Moscow would challenge the transfer post-war.

Kulbergs also rebuked European Council President António Costa for engaging in communication with the Kremlin, stating that such outreach is "a useless exercise" given Putin's lack of willingness to negotiate. Despite Latvia's severed ties with Russia, Kulbergs advocated for open-mindedness towards restoring relations once Russia compensates Ukraine for reparations and ensures justice for war crime perpetrators.

He warned that a post-ceasefire period would only increase border insecurity, predicting a wave of migration as soldiers return home from the battlefield in search of a better life. Other citizens might flee as Moscow's wartime economy collapses. During negotiations for the sanctions package, France and Italy opposed a total ban on Russian combatants, arguing for a different approach through EU visa rules.

Northern and eastern EU countries pushed for tighter restrictions, ultimately establishing a legal and political basis for barring Russian combatants and former service members who participated in the war, with individual EU countries deciding on the timing of the ban.