Finland, Sweden push to tighten visa rules for Russians

The Foreign Ministers of Finland and Sweden issued a joint call to the European Commission and EU member states to tighten visa policy for Russian citizens. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stated on X that it is unacceptable for Russian tourists to enjoy European beaches while Russia attacks Ukrainian civilians, citing a strike on a UNESCO monastery in Kyiv as a crime against humanity. Sweden and Finland also urged the Commission to develop a program to more effectively identify participants in the war against Ukraine and prevent their entry into the Schengen Area.