Ruthless Kaja Kallas: EU Prepares New Ban on Russians

After the EU Council meeting, Kaja Kallas said that several member states have expressed support for Estonia’s proposal, without specifying which countries.

“This represents a clear security risk for Europe. We agreed to further develop this proposal,” Kallas stated.

She added that the issue could become particularly relevant after the current phase of the war ends, and that the European Union should provide concrete responses by that time.

On January 29, it was unofficially reported that Estonia is proposing EU member states consider banning entry into the Schengen Area for individuals who participated in hostilities against Ukraine while serving in the Russian armed forces.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized that people with such experience are at increased risk of recruitment by Russian intelligence services and pose a range of security threats.

“There can be no route from Bucha to Brussels,” Tsahkna  told reporters in the Belgian capital, adding that he would present the proposal at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting later that day.

Estonia, a NATO member sharing a border with Russia, earlier in January banned the first 261 Russian fighters from entering the Schengen Area. Tallinn is now calling for a coordinated EU-wide approach.

“In Russia, we have almost a million fighters. These are mostly criminals, very dangerous people. We have information that most of them will come to Europe after the war ends. And Europe is not ready for this,” Tsahkna said.