Russians 'Cheer Missile Strikes On Ukrainian Cities': Kyiv's Foreign Minister Wants EU Entry Ban For Moscow

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba disagreed with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's decision to not support an initiative to ban all Russian citizens from entering the European Union (EU).

Kuleba wrote Thursday on Twitter that Russians "cheer missile strikes on Ukrainian cities," and so they should only "enjoy Russia then."

"This is Russia's, not just Putin's war. Not Putin, but actual Russian soldiers come from Russia to kill, torture and destroy. Russians overwhelmingly support the war, cheer missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and murder of Ukrainians. Let Russian tourists enjoy Russia then," Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

However, Scholz rejected calls for a ban on tourist visas given to Russian citizens to enter the EU, saying: "This war is Putin's war," according to European Pravda.

Meanwhile, Estonia announced within a week it will block entry to Russian nationals, with only a few exceptions. However, Scholz ruled out such a bloc-wide measure.

The Estonian government said some 50,000 Russians, who had been granted visas before the invasion began on Feb. 24, will be restricted from entering the region, according to Bloomberg.

This week, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and his Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin, called on EU member states to halt tourist visas. Kallas stressed visiting Europe is a privilege and not a human right.

"Visiting #Europe is a privilege, not a human right," Kallas tweeted. "Air travel from RU is shut down. It means while Schengen countries issue visas, neighbors to Russia carry the burden (FI, EE, LV – sole access points). Time to end tourism from Russia now."

The Baltic States and the Czech Republic expressed support over restrictions on issuing new visas for travel, work or study to Russian citizens.

Amid the debate over the tourist ban, Kremlin slammed European critics including leaders of EU states over their calls for all Russians to be banned from the West until the war in Ukraine ends.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said "the irrationality of thinking" behind calls for such bans "is off the charts," according to Rferl.

He added fresh calls to ban Russians "can only be viewed extremely negatively." He also warned "any attempt to isolate Russians or Russia is a process that has no prospects."

Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin told Finnish broadcaster YLE on Monday that "it is not right that while Russia is waging an aggressive, brutal war of aggression in Europe, Russians can live a normal life, travel in Europe, be tourists," according to Rferl.

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