A group of European Union leaders has urged the European Commission to consider new visa restrictions for Russian nationals who have participated in the war in Ukraine, citing potential security risks for the EU’s Schengen area.
In a joint letter addressed to European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the leaders of eight central, eastern and northeastern European countries (Germany, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Sweden) warn that Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine could create longer-term security challenges if large numbers of combatants leave the battlefield and seek travel abroad.
The initiative comes amid growing concern about the possible security implications of returning fighters. Reporting first published by Politico, linked a copy of the letter dated 11 March.
Concerns over returning combatants
The leaders argue that fighters returning from the conflict — including individuals recruited from Russian prison populations — could attempt to travel to EU countries through the Schengen system. They suggest that such movements could present risks linked to criminal networks, violent activity, or other forms of destabilising behaviour.
The letter frames the issue as a potential internal security challenge for the EU’s border-free Schengen area, where individuals admitted to one member state can generally move across most of the bloc without internal border checks.
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Visa trends and travel demand
The issue is also linked to continued demand for travel between Russia and the European Union. Travel-industry estimates cited in Politico’s report indicate that Russian nationals submitted roughly 620,000 to 670,000 Schengen visa applications in 2025, placing them among the most frequent applicants for entry into the EU.
A large share of these applications reportedly resulted in visas being granted, highlighting the continued level of cross-border mobility despite the deterioration of political relations since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Calls for policy review in Brussels
The leaders therefore call on the European Commission to review whether the current legal framework governing Schengen visas adequately addresses potential security concerns related to combat veterans returning from the war.
They also suggest that Brussels examine whether EU rules allow for coordinated entry restrictions across member states should governments determine that additional safeguards are necessary.
The discussion builds on earlier EU decisions to tighten visa procedures for Russian nationals following the invasion of Ukraine, including stricter scrutiny of applications and shorter visa validity periods. No formal proposal has yet been presented by the European Commission, and additional details may emerge if the letter or related discussions are made public by EU institutions or national governments.
