Estonia is advocating for a permanent closure of the Schengen Area to Russian soldiers involved in the conflict in Ukraine, seeking support from the entire European Union.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized that many individuals fighting for Russia are criminals and pose a significant threat to Europe post-war. “What will these people do? Most of them are criminals, but in Russia, they are treated as heroes,” she stated during an EU meeting in Cyprus.
Kallas expressed concern that demobilized fighters could form the backbone of new private military groups similar to the Wagner Group, potentially operating globally. “They will be organized as Wagner II, Wagner III, and will act across Europe, Asia, Africa, and all continents,” she added.
This initiative began gaining traction earlier this year, with Estonia lobbying for a ban. By March, the European Council included the proposal in its official conclusions from a summit.
EU leaders have tasked the European Commission with assessing how to implement this ban without infringing on the sovereign rights of member states regarding visa issuance.
Kallas indicated that a specific proposal would be ready for the upcoming summit in June.
Currently, each EU country independently decides on visa issuance, allowing individuals with Schengen visas to travel freely across the area. Kallas believes Estonia’s efforts alone are insufficient.
“Estonia has already denied entry to around 1,300 Russian soldiers. We can do more, we can do ten times more, but we cannot handle a million (soldiers) alone. We need everyone’s help,” she emphasized.
Estonia is leading an initiative to permanently ban Russian soldiers from the Schengen Area, highlighting the potential threat they pose post-conflict. The proposal has gained support within the EU, with plans for further discussions at the upcoming summit.