Finland Urges EU to Ban Russian Tourist Visas
Finland is calling for a European Union ban on tourist visas for Russian citizens until Moscow ends its invasion of Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen called on European Union member states on October 12, 2026, to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens. Valtonen urged the European Commission to adopt stricter processing guidelines and legislative amendments to establish a comprehensive ban, noting that Schengen countries issued nearly 500,000 such visas in 2025. She argued that Russian citizens should not enjoy European freedoms while their country bombs Ukrainian homes.
Finland has banned non-essential travel visas for Russians since 2022. Valtonen invited EU countries to sign a joint letter to the European Commission proposing a ban on Schengen visas for President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, restrictions for Russian athletes, and the enforcement of entry bans for current and former Russian combatants. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna supported the need for a coordinated system to blacklist former combatants.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo intends to present the proposal at the next European Council meeting, citing security concerns regarding Russian sabotage operations in Europe. In a related development, Valtonen criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports to lower fuel prices in the United States, stating that the U.S. should stand with Ukraine.
