Russia's war on Ukraine continues because of Russians with Schengen visas - diplomat

Ukrainian diplomat Volodymyr Yelchenko said this on Espreso TV. 

"Without visa restrictions, it makes no sense to talk about the density of the sanctions regime. These are precisely the people on whom public opinion in Russia depends. These are the residents of megacities who carry the 'Russian world' in their vision", he said.

The diplomat recalled the rude behavior of people with Russian flags in the squares of EU capitals, who shout something, pick on Ukrainians, and more.

"It is precisely because of such people who travel all over Europe with Schengen that there is a war. Such a step would have such emotional and psychological significance, because we constantly hear statements from Russian officials that the sanctions do not work and the economy has started to work better. Instead of McDonald's, there are already some brands of their own, and Lada is collected from cigarette butts. When these 300,000 people see that they cannot go anywhere - let them buy Gucci in Taganrog. I think that  the Taganrog Versace will be better than the original one", Yelchenko concluded.