EU Suspends Visa Agreement With Russia

The European Union announced Wednesday it would be suspending its visa facilitation agreement with Russia because of the conflict in Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell made the announcement during a new conference with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský in Prague.

Borrell said there had been a "substantial increase" in border crossings from Russia into the EU since July, and that many Russians were "travelling for leisure and shopping as if no war was raging in Ukraine".

"We agreed that something has to be done," he said, before announcing a suspension of the visa agreement.

The EU's top diplomat said this meant visa processing will take longer and the number of new visas will be substantially reduced.

Borrell also accused Russia of "gambling" with the safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants "especially in Zaporizhzhia.

It comes as a team of U.N. inspectors made its way toward the Zaporizhzhia plant on a long-sought mission to help secure the site and reduce the risk of a catastrophe from the fighting raging around it.

Underscoring the danger, Kyiv and Moscow again accused each other of shelling the area around the complex, the biggest nuclear plant in Europe.

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[jimmiller]

xenophobia is alive and well in the EU

[TheHypnotstCollector]

the meaning is Preparation for war against Russia. violence is in the cake mix

[thegermanfool]

they better not come crawling back when winter hits.

[SincereSentinel]

What a worthless announcement & initiative.

[lucotonico]

Economically this decision going to affect EU more than Russia. Weren't there some type of fees at all in the process of getting a visa?

[seandom]

EU is not Europe, and do not represent European but only themselves….and maybe some east European..
We have nothing to do with what EU decides, the majority of parliamentarians are under influence of US - NATO - and east European governments and don’t do what their own people ask them to do.
Most European don’t like this EU and do not want any war, or get involved in internal affairs of other countries….

[alexeygrankin]

Pephars, the electricity should be turning off in All Russia, , including Kaliningrad, Transnistria and Far East as blackout instead of making more tough sanctions against Russia anytime. If that is still better..

[antel]

EU do wise and very good job now make diferance. Go EU with wholle western in unit proudly defending democracy and freedom.