(SeaPRwire) – By: Julian Holbrooke
The EU’s plan to ban Russian veterans from entering the bloc is a textbook example of geopolitical posturing gone wrong. France and Italy are pushing back hard, and their objections aren’t just nitpicking—they’re pointing out fatal flaws in the proposal. Moscow has called it “paranoid,” and inside the EU, critics fear it could morph into a blanket ban on 1.3 million Russians, including conscripts who never fought in Ukraine.
Brussels frames the ban as a security measure. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the bloc should bar anyone who served in the Russian military since February 2022. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas claims the EU has intel on all conflict participants and can blacklist them by name. But when asked how to enforce it, she admitted: “I am not an expert, but experts say it is possible.” That’s not a plan—it’s a hope. The official line ignores the practical impossibility of verifying every Russian traveler’s military history.
France and Italy have good reason to push back. They process some of the highest numbers of Russian arrivals: France recorded just under 180,000 in 2025, Italy around 160,000. Enforcing the ban would mean national authorities digging into every applicant’s past—a task they can’t handle. The two countries also argue the measure should be a visa policy, not a sanction. Beyond that, the EU’s 21st sanctions package is already stuck. Disputes over oil price caps, LNG-linked “shadow fleet” vessels, fish imports, critical minerals, and third-country companies accused of aiding Moscow are slowing progress. This ban is just another wedge in a divided bloc.
The EU’s unity on Russia is fading fast. Bulgaria warns against symbolic sanctions that hurt EU economies. Slovakia and Hungary want to restore dialogue with Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says EU officials “do not know what else to invent” to punish Russia. The truth is, the bloc can’t keep up its hardline stance. The travel ban will likely be watered down or scrapped. This isn’t just about travel—it’s a sign that the EU’s ability to present a unified front against Russia is crumbling.
Author bio: Julian Holbrooke, an overseas international relations analyst who frequently contributes to major European daily newspapers.