The President and other EU leaders call for action against Russian combatants

President Gitanas Nausėda, together with the leaders of Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Germany, Romania and Sweden, signed a letter addressed to President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the need to address the issue of sanctioning Russian combatants.

The letter states that Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues to reshape the European security environment, with long-term consequences for the European Union, as well as for the security of our citizens and, in particular, the Schengen Area. In addition to the military threat, it is also necessary to address the internal security risks arising from this war.

The leaders note that one of the most serious and persistent risks is the possible movement of former and current Russian combatants (Russian citizens) into the Schengen Area. Individuals who have participated in the war as part of the armed forces of the aggressor state pose a serious threat to internal security, including violent crimes, organized criminal networks, extremist movements, or activities of a hostile state in the broader context of Russia's hybrid actions.

"Among them are a significant number of previously convicted criminals who were recruited from Russian prisons and sent to the front. With rotations and possible demobilization, it is likely that the number of individuals with recent experience of violent combat and seeking to travel abroad will increase significantly," the leaders warn.

The letter points out that the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian citizens is already growing rapidly, and given the freedom of movement within the Schengen Area, the security implications do not depend on which Member State issued the visa or residence permit.

"Therefore, any entry can have serious consequences for the security of a single Member State or the entire Schengen Area. Inaction would create long-term vulnerabilities that can still be avoided at this stage. Decisive and coordinated action is therefore urgently needed to prevent negative consequences," the authors of the letter urge.

The leaders stress the need to strengthen cooperation at EU level in order to address this threat in a consistent and forward-looking manner. They point out that the Commission's new visa policy strategy clearly states the possibility of applying new targeted visa restrictive measures if relations with a specific third country deteriorate significantly, including a proposed category covering "identified former and current combatants of the aggressor state". This provides a clear political and policy basis for further work.

"We therefore invite the Commission, in close cooperation with the European External Action Service and the relevant Council structures, to urgently examine and put forward concrete next steps that could be implemented at EU level, including targeted amendments to the Visa Code or other appropriate legal instruments, with a view to enabling a coordinated European approach. The aim should be to avoid fragmentation and ensure consistent level of security across the Schengen Area," the letter reads.

"We invite Member States to join this initiative and strengthen coordinated efforts through closer cooperation at the operational level. Finally, given the seriousness of the issue, we believe that this problem requires attention at the highest political level and a coordinated European response, which should be reflected in the conclusions of the European Council meeting in March," the letter concludes.