EU must build a "Schengen Wall" to Russia

At the EU Foreign Minister's informal meeting held in Prague on August 31 local time, the EU member states reached a political decision on suspending the European and Russian visa convenience agreement, and no longer simplified the visa issuance procedures for Russian citizens. The EU's senior representative of Foreign and Security Policy Berrely explained the reason for the decision on the same day: "We see many Russians traveling and shopping in Europe, as if Ukraine did not have a war."

Europe and Russia signed a visa convenience agreement in 2007, providing cheap and convenient opportunities for Russian citizens to enter the European Union. According to the "Wall Street Journal" report on the 1st, once the agreement is suspended, the EU visa fee will be more than doubled from the current $ 35, and the member states will also ask some additional documents to extend the process. EU diplomats said that some member states may make visa procedures very cumbersome, so that Russians are actually prohibited from obtain visas from these countries.

Earlier, the European Union has tightened visas to Russian officials and business people. The Washington Post analyzes that the EU's latest decision will make Russian tourists more difficult to obtain visas, but it does not mean the door to closing on vacation. Ukraine Foreign Minister Culpba continued to urge the EU on Twitter on August 31: "To change Russia, close the door to Russian tourists."

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said on the 1st that the European Union decided to freeze the agreement with Russia's simplified visa system as "ridiculous" and another example of the "anti -Russian agenda" in Western countries, "this is not good for Russians." Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said in a speech at the National School of International Relations of Moscow on the 1st that Russia would not return tooth with teeth to punish European citizens: "We will not be separated by ourselves. You don't need to close the border, you don't need to make a corresponding attack or punish European citizens. We should not take the same path and respond to stupidity with stupidity. "He said that those European politicians who advocate restrictions to the Russians are" pitiful "People".

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gruhko said on August 31 that Russia reserved the right to adopt "any necessary retaliation measures", regardless of these retaliation measures are symmetrical, asymmetric, or unexpected by the European Union. He said that the European Union is building a "fence". If Brussels decides to move their stones again and smash their feet, it is their own choices. The EU measures are "barbaric and shameful." He questioned the West, who punished in this way? Is the Finnish still demolished the St. Petersburg-Helsinki Railway?

There are differences in the EU within the issue of whether Russian citizens should be completely banned from entering the EU. The five EU countries bordering Russia -Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are the most determined. They said before the Prague EU Foreign Minister said that if it cannot be reached at the EU level, they will "take measures on their own at the national level. "Stop Russians from entering the country. Russian political scientist Suzdaltov told the Newspaper on the 1st that the Baltic countries were close to completely prevent Russians from entering the country, and some even proposed to deprive Russians' real estate in the country.

Officials from France, Germany, Belgium, Spain and other countries said that the full ban will only let Putin believe that he has confirmed the "Western terror Russia." Hungarian Foreign Minister Seven said that this cannot solve the problem of Russia and Ukraine, but may upgrade the conflict. He said that peace is the primary goal. "I think that in the current situation, implementing a comprehensive travel ban on Russia is not a suitable decision." ▲

Ren Zhong Liu Yupeng

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