- Ukraine has called on foreign countries to ban Russian tourists from visiting their country.
- Ukrainian officials say this may be the most effective way to end the war.
- More than six months ago, Russia invaded Ukraine.
Ukraine calls on EU and G7 to ban entry of Russian travelers to end Russian aggression, NBC News report.
According to NBC News, the call drew mixed reactions from countries, some of which were against the idea of a visa ban on ordinary Russians.
“We’re not talking about punishment, we’re talking about restrictive measures aimed at ending the war,” Estonian Foreign Minister Ulmas Reinsalu told NBC News. “The right to enter any given country is not a human right.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously called for a ban on Russian tourists Washington post Earlier this month, “the most important sanctions are closing borders – because the Russians are taking other people’s land.”
It has been six months since Russia invaded Ukraine.
in a column Earlier this week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kouleba said that banning the entry of Russian tourists, businessmen and students would be “an appropriate response to Russia’s war of genocidal aggression”.
“But why sanction ordinary Russians?” someone asked. Because the vast majority of them supported the war, cheered the murder of Ukrainian civilians, praised the missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, and denied Russian war crimes,” Kuleba said.
Countries such as Germany and the United States have voiced opposition to visa bans on ordinary Russians.
“This is not a war for the Russian people, it is Putin’s war,” said German Chancellor Olaf Schultz. politics.
Reuters A State Department spokesman said the U.S. “does not want to close the haven and safe passage for Russian dissidents or others vulnerable to human rights abuses,” the report said.
“We are also well aware that it is important to draw a line between the actions of the Russian government and its policies in Ukraine and the Russian people,” the spokesman added.
According to NBC News, Poland and Finland have come out in support of a ban on Russian tourists. Finland also said it would reduce the number of visas it issues to Russians starting next month, Reuters report.
