The Nordic countries have issued a joint call for an EU-wide ban on tourist visas for Russian citizens, citing a surge in visa approvals that they argue undermines European sanctions and rewards Russian aggression in Ukraine.
According to EU Observer, tourist visa approvals for Russian citizens across the European Union increased 43 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, with particularly large increases in Italy, Spain, and Greece. The data, compiled by the European Commission, shows that more than 350,000 Schengen tourist visas were issued to Russian citizens last year.
Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have already imposed unilateral bans on Russian tourist entry, arguing that allowing leisure travel by Russian citizens while their government wages war in Ukraine is morally untenable. Now they are pressing for the entire European Union to adopt similar restrictions.
"It is incomprehensible that some EU member states continue to welcome Russian tourists while Ukrainian cities are being bombed," Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said in a statement released Thursday. "This is not about collective punishment—it is about making clear that there are consequences for supporting a regime that violates international law."
The Nordic position reflects broader frustration with what they perceive as a lack of European solidarity on Russia policy. While sanctions on Russian energy, finance, and military-related sectors have been maintained, several southern European nations—heavily dependent on tourism revenue—have continued issuing visas to Russian citizens seeking leisure travel.
Italian tourism officials have defended their country's approach, noting that tourism represents a significant portion of the economy and that individual Russian citizens should not be held responsible for their government's actions. Greece and Spain, both facing economic pressures, have similarly resisted calls for blanket visa bans.
The data shows stark geographic divisions within the European Union. Eastern European nations closest to Russia—which face the most immediate security threat—have taken the hardest line on visa policy. Southern European nations, geographically distant from the conflict, have prioritized economic considerations.
Germany and France, the European Union's largest economies, have taken intermediate positions. Both have tightened visa screening procedures and increased rejection rates for Russian applications but have stopped short of blanket bans. A senior German Foreign Ministry official told this correspondent that Berlin believes "targeted restrictions are more effective than blanket prohibitions."
Historical context illuminates the complexities. During the Cold War, Western nations generally welcomed Soviet citizens who managed to obtain travel permission, viewing people-to-people contacts as a way to expose Soviet citizens to democratic values. The current situation is different—post-Soviet Russia is not a closed society, and its citizens have access to information about their government's actions in Ukraine.
Polling data from independent Russian research organizations suggests that a majority of Russian citizens support their government's war effort, though the reliability of such polling in an increasingly authoritarian state is questionable. Supporters of visa restrictions argue that Russians who truly oppose the war can seek asylum or humanitarian visas rather than traveling for leisure.
The European Commission has sought middle ground, proposing enhanced visa screening that would require Russian applicants to demonstrate opposition to the war or other qualifying circumstances. However, Nordic and Baltic officials argue such half-measures are insufficient and difficult to enforce.
Ukrainian officials have strongly supported the Nordic position. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has repeatedly called for comprehensive travel restrictions on Russian citizens, arguing that allowing Russians to vacation in Europe while Ukrainians live under bombardment represents a fundamental moral failure.
The issue will likely come before the European Council in the coming months, requiring unanimous approval from all 27 member states for EU-wide action. Given the current divisions, such consensus appears unlikely. Instead, the European Union may continue with its current fragmented approach—some nations imposing blanket bans while others maintain looser policies.
For the Nordic countries, the visa issue has become a litmus test of European resolve and solidarity. Their push for EU-wide restrictions reflects a broader belief that the West's response to Russian aggression must be comprehensive and unambiguous, affecting not just Russian elites but ordinary citizens whose tacit support enables the Kremlin's actions.
