The European Union will not be able to impose a complete ban on the issuance of visas to citizens of the Russian Federation. Such a move does not meet the visa policy of the EU. This is reported by the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

As the European Commission reported in response to a request, the sanctions against Russia are aimed specifically at the government and the economic elite. The purpose of these restrictions is to prevent the financing of an aggressive war in Ukraine. The sanctions themselves are not aimed at ordinary Russians.

"There are always groups of people who should be granted visas, such as humanitarian workers, family members, journalists and dissidents," the EC response said.

At the same time, the European Commission did not say whether such a question was raised at all, but referred to the confidentiality of discussions.

The newspaper notes that in Finland, there is an ongoing discussion about restricting issuance of tourist visas to Russians. As citizens are annoyed that they continue to go to Finland and Europe while Russia is at war with Ukraine.

It is also reported that Helsinki is considering limiting the issuance of tourist visas, in particular by limiting the acceptance of applications and more frequent refusals.