“The time for half measures has passed,” said the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, while the European Foreign Ministers are also meeting today in Prague.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba today asked the EU to ban Russian tourists from entering its territory, calling the measure appropriate since a majority of Russians support Moscow’s “genocidal war of aggression” against Kiev.
“The time for half measures is over”, Kouleba told Reuters as EU foreign ministers are expected to meet today in Prague for a second day of talks. “Only a tough and consistent policy can produce results,” Kuleba added.
Ministers are expected to agree on suspension of entry visa facilitation agreement (visa) with Moscow, meaning Russians will have to wait longer and pay more for visas, as the EU is likely to remain divided over an outright travel ban.
“A visa ban on Russian tourists and some other charges will be a fitting response to Russia’s genocidal war of aggression in the heart of Europe supported by an overwhelming majority of Russian citizens,” Kouleba said in a statement emailed to Reuters.
The Ukrainian foreign minister also suggested starting a special program for Russian soldiers who no longer want to fight in Ukraine.
“(The message is): Save yourselves and leave. Lay down your arms, surrender to Ukrainian forces and take a chance to start a new life,” Kuleba noted.
“I am convinced that this proposal is worth making, because even if a Russian soldier lays down his arms and decides to leave, it means that Ukrainian lives are saved and we are closer to peace,” Kuleba added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday urged Russian soldiers to leave the battle to save themselves after the offensive launched by Ukrainian forces to retake southern Ukraine. However, Moscow announced that it had repulsed the attack and that it had inflicted heavy losses on Kiev’s forces.
Borrell: The EU cannot fail to appear united
The EU should not be seen as that disagrees on the issue of the entry ban on the territory of Russian tourists, the head of European diplomacy said today Joseph Borel, calling on member countries to find common ground.
“We need to reach an agreement and a political decision,” Borrell told reporters on the sidelines of the second day of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague.
“I will work for unity (…) We have no room to be seen as disagreeing on such an important issue, which concerns relations between peoples, between Russian society and European peoples,” he added.
RES-EMP
Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
