Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland will introduce visa restrictions for Russians, regardless of EU decision

This is stated in a joint statement of the states, the Financial Times reports.

Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said that if the relevant decision is not adopted by the European Union, they will introduce it at the national level.

"Until such measures are taken at the EU level, we will consider the possibility of introducing temporary measures at the national level to solve public security problems related to the increase in the flow of Russian citizens through our borders," the statement said.

The countries also require the European Commission to initiate visa measures that will decisively reduce the flow of Russian citizens arriving in the European Union and the Schengen area.

According to the Financial Times, about 700,000 Russians have entered Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since the beginning of the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Most of them are tourists who use the states bordering Russia as a "gateway" for trips to other EU countries.