“The ordinary Russians did not start the war, but at the same time, we must understand that they support the war,” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin summed up during a meeting between the heads of government of the Nordic countries and Germany.
Scandinavian countries and Germany appeared yesterday Monday in Oslo to be divided over the possibility of limiting, in retaliation for the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, the tourist visas given to Russians, a punitive measure proposed by Helsinki but met with reservations in Berlin.
“The ordinary Russians did not start the war, but at the same time, we must understand that they support the war,” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin summed up during a meeting between the heads of government of the Nordic countries and Germany.
“It is not right that Russian citizens can enter Europe, the Schengen area, as tourists (…) while Russia is killing people in Ukraine,” he added during a joint press conference.
In early August, the Finnish Foreign Ministry presented a plan to limit the passport visas they give to Russians who want to go to the country for tourism. Helsinki wants a similar decision to be made at the level of the European Union. Ethonia is in favor of the idea.
After the ban on flights from Russia to the EU, Russian tourists to the Scandinavian country are increasing, as it shares a border with their homeland. From there they go to other European countries.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, expressed reservations about taking this measure.
“It was an important decision on our part to impose sanctions against those who are responsible for the war, against the oligarchs and those who benefit financially from the war of the regime of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” he stressed.
“We will continue to do it, but I think this is not the Russian people’s war, this is Putin’s war,” he continued.
In Mr. Soltz’s view, limiting passport visas would also hit “all those who leave Russia because they disagree with the Russian regime.”
“All the decisions we make should not make it more difficult for them to seek freedom and leave the country to get away from the regime and the dictatorship in Russia,” he added.
Sweden, through its Prime Minister Eva Magdalena Andersson, said it was not taking a position on the issue at the moment—”there are arguments on both sides,” explained Mrs. Andersson—while Denmark called for maintaining European unity against of Moscow.
“One of our achievements during this war is our unity” and “we should have this discussion” about curtailing Russian tourist travel, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.
“I understand why some Europeans, and probably Ukrainians in particular, find it a bit strange that Russia attacked a European country and at the same time we continue to welcome tourists” from it, he explained.
The Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gar Stere, whose country is not an EU member state, assured that Oslo would support any joint action decided to be taken.
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