Germany demands a ban on tourist visas for Russians: details of the initiative

The German government plans to impose strict restrictions on the issuance of tourist visas to Russians. According to Bild, Eastern European countries are expressing dissatisfaction with the possibility of Russians associated with Putin traveling to the EU during the Ukrainian war.

Despite recommendations, the number of visas issued is growing. In 2024, Russians received about 542,000 short-term visas for trips to Schengen Area countries, which is 20% more than in 2023. The German government proposes to discuss a unified visa policy with EU partners to reduce this trend.

“There should be a possibility, with the consent of the affected country, such as Ukraine, to neutralize drones that threaten NATO territory, even in their airspace,” noted the official.

• Italy - over 152,000.
• France - 124,000.
• Spain - about 111,000.
• Greece - nearly 60,000.

Following Russia's provocation with the use of drones over NATO and EU territory, the head of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Thomas Röwekamp, called for swift countermeasures in case of further similar incidents. He emphasized the importance of combating drones outside the alliance member countries.

There is a noticeable increase in the issuance of visas to Russians by EU countries, which causes outrage among some countries, particularly Germany. The German government advocates for restricting this practice and imposing strict measures against Russian tourists due to their support for Putin in the Ukrainian war.