Estonia Calls for the Schengen Area to Be Closed to Russian Military Personnel — Euronews
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has proposed permanently barring all Russian soldiers involved in the aggression against Ukraine from entering the Schengen Area.
This was reported by Euronews.
The Estonian government is actively urging its European Union partners to impose joint restrictions to prevent war criminals from entering European territory.
During a meeting of EU leaders in Cyprus, the head of the Estonian government emphasized that most of those fighting on Russia’s side are criminals.
He stressed that once hostilities end, these people will pose a direct threat to the security of European countries if they are allowed to move freely across the continent.
Mihail expressed serious concern about the future of Russian veterans, who are hailed as “heroes” in Russia.
“What will these people do? Most of them are criminals, but in Russia they are treated as heroes,” the prime minister told reporters.
According to Tallinn, demobilized occupiers could become the core personnel for the creation of new private military companies.
Kristen Michal warned that such structures would operate on the model of the “Wagner” group, destabilizing the situation not only in Europe but also in Asia and Africa.
“They will be formed as private armies—Wagner II, Wagner III—and will operate in Europe, Asia, Africa, and on all continents,” the Estonian prime minister added.
That is precisely why the preemptive closure of borders is a critically important step for international stability.
Estonia began lobbying for this decision at the beginning of the year, and the initiative has now received support at the European Council level.
EU leaders have tasked the European Commission with developing a mechanism to implement this ban that would not violate states’ sovereign rights to issue visas.
The Baltic states have finally severed economic ties with Russia
Estonia summoned a Russian diplomat over a violation of the country’s airspace
