Russian Permanent Representative on Visa Ban for Russians

It is still too early to declare that the issue of banning Schengen visas for Russians is at the center of debates within the European Union. This was stated by Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's permanent representative to the EU, during a broadcast on the Russia 24 television channel.

"I think it is a bit early to talk about this topic being at the center of debates within the EU," the diplomat noted.

The German government had earlier put forward a proposal within the framework of a new package of sanctions to ban the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens in the EU. In Moscow, the proposal to deny Schengen visas to all Russian citizens is considered a manifestation of intolerance, and such statements from European politicians will not go unanswered.

Recall that on the early morning of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided to carry out a special military operation against Ukraine because the LPR and DPR had requested assistance. Following Putin's announcement, the United States, the European Union, and many Western countries imposed a series of sanctions against Russia. These sanctions pertain to the banking sector, aviation, various branches of the economy, telecommunications, and even culture and sports.

The combat operations in Ukraine have now been ongoing for 169 days.