Ukraine actively working with partners in EU, G7 to persuade them to turn away Russian tourists – Kuleba

KYIV. Aug 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba announced the work on the introduction of a ban on entry into the EU and the G7 countries for citizens of Russia, which should be an additional sanction measure.

"Ukraine is now actively working with partners in the EU and G7 to persuade them to turn away Russian tourists. We see it as one of the most effective personal sanctions against Russia. Unlike some other restrictive measures, it costs almost nothing, enhances security, needs no additional legislation and sends a powerful signal to all Russians. It says that Putin and his supporters have shut the Russia’s door to Europe. A clear message to all Russians that Putin and his supporters have closed Russia’s door to Europe," Kuleba said in an article for Politico.

The minister said Russian tourists should be denied the right to cross international borders until they learn to respect them.

"Simply put, Russian tourists, businesspeople and students should be banned from traveling to the EU and G7 countries. This is an appropriate response to Russia’s genocidal war of aggression. ‘But why sanction ordinary Russians?’ some ask. Because an overwhelming majority of them support this war, cheer the murder of Ukrainian civilians, laud missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and deny Russian war crimes," the head of the Foreign Ministry said.

Kuleba said that although the legal responsibility for the crimes committed is indeed individual, there is also a general collective responsibility that Russians must bear for all the grief caused to Ukraine.