Exclusive: Finland pushes to all but eliminate Russian travel in EU

Key Points:

• Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has proposed five measures to the EU aimed at significantly restricting Russian citizens' travel within the bloc, emphasizing the need to deepen Russia's isolation due to its aggression.
• Key proposals include stopping the issuance of Schengen visas for non-essential travel by Russians, implementing a binding visa ban on Putin's inner circle and sanctioned entities, and refusing visas to Russian athletes closely linked to the government.
• Valtonen also reiterated the call for banning Russian ex-combatants from entering the EU, citing concerns over their ties to Russian secret services, a measure previously diluted due to enforcement disagreements.
• Additionally, Finland urges the European Commission to amend the visa code to allow swift and consistent imposition of binding visa restrictions when political or security relations with a third country, like Russia, deteriorate sharply.
• The European Commission is expected to introduce a tougher visa law in January targeting countries that pose threats to the EU, aligning with Finland's push for stricter travel controls on Russians.