EU Faces Pressure to Toughen Visa Rules Amid Russian Sabotage

Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has urged the EU to tighten visa restrictions for Russians following suspected sabotage attacks in several European countries. He proposed issuing fewer Schengen visas, requiring biometric passports, and limiting the number of Russian diplomats and their movements. Sikorski also stated that 'Russia is trying to destroy the EU from within and should not be allowed to take advantage of the privileges of free movement.'

The recent attacks have raised concerns among European governments that Moscow is using covert operations to undermine support for Ukraine and test the EU's readiness to respond. The number of suspicious incidents has risen in recent weeks, with investigations underway in Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that reports suggested a suspect in one of the cases had entered Europe on an Italian tourist visa. The European Commission is preparing changes to the EU visa code to address security threats from hostile countries. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that more attacks can be expected.

The bloc has already suspended visa facilitation for Russians and generally stopped issuing multiple-entry visas in November 2025. The July sanctions package established a basis for barring Russian combatants and veterans from entering the EU, but implementation remains pending.