LONDON: UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has ruled the idea of a blanket ban on visas for Russians, but insisted "we can toughen up the conditions".
"I certainly think we can toughen up the conditions of our visas. I am not certain whether an outright ban is the right way," Wallace in a press briefing. "I believe that is a matter for the Home Secretary to look at. But I don't like, and I am certain none of your listeners like watching oligarchs' wives or indeed Russian senior officials' wives enjoying themselves in Greece or south of France, or super yachts around the world while their army is committing war crimes in Ukraine," he said.
"I firmly believe that is incorrect. I believe that the issue dates all the way back to 2014, when Russia invaded Crimea and forcibly seized it, while some nations permitted life to go on as usual." In response to Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine, a number of European nations have extended limitations on Russian tourist visas.
Last week, Estonia made the announcement that it will suspend providing visas to Russian nationals and would refuse admission to Russian nationals with visas for business, tourism, sports, or culture.
Russian nationals possessing visas from other Schengen nations or those already present in the Schengen region can still enter Estonia, nonetheless.
Finland is strengthening visa regulations, while Lithuania has already largely stopped giving visas and residence permits to Russians.
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