Ukraine's Foreign Minister Urges the EU to Ban Russian Combatants and Their Families From Entering Europe

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on the European Union to introduce an EU-wide entry ban on Russian combatants and their family members, in a post on X on October 18, 2026. He wrote:

To protect Europe, close the European door to Russians now.

Russian combatants and their family members should not be allowed to enter the EU. We need real entry bans as soon as possible.

Similar steps have already been taken at the national level, including in Estonia. They are feasible and they work.

An EU-wide move would be especially timely now, as Putin is grabbing new cannon fodder off the streets. Every Russian man recruited to fight against Ukraine should know: by signing a contract with the invading army, he is also signing a ban on entering Europe and the rest of the world.

Non-essential visas for Russian nationals must be restricted to the maximum extent across all European states. This is a matter of national security for every European country.

Russian diplomats should also not be able to move freely across Europe. Russia's attacks on Europe are no longer merely hybrid. They are growing in intensity and scale. This demands urgent action. Only tough pressure can stop Putin.

The Proposal Already on the Table

In June, we reported that the European Commission proposed barring entry to the EU for anyone who has served in Russia's army since the full-scale war began, as part of its 21st sanctions package. At the time it was a proposal that still had to be debated in the EU Council.