Lithuanian president joins EU leaders urging sanctions on Russian soldiers

VILNIUS - President Gitanas Nauseda, along with other European Union leaders, urged European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to impose sanctions on Russian soldiers.

The Presidential office said on Friday that Nauseda co-signed a joint letter with the leaders of Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Germany, Romania, and Sweden.

The letter states that Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to reshape the European security environment, creating long-term consequences for the European Union and the security of the region’s citizens, particularly in the Schengen area. It stresses the need to address internal security risks arising from the conflict, highlighting the potential movement of former and active Russian soldiers into the Schengen zone as a persistent threat.

The leaders warned that individuals who have fought on Russia’s side could pose serious security risks, including violent crimes, activities of organized criminal networks, extremist movements, or other hostile actions linked to Russia’s hybrid tactics.

"Among them is a significant number of previously convicted criminals who were recruited from Russian prisons and sent to the front. With rotations and potential demobilization, the number of individuals with recent violent combat experience seeking to travel abroad is likely to increase significantly," the letter said.

The letter notes that the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian citizens is rapidly rising. Given the freedom of movement within the Schengen area, the security risk does not depend on which member state issued the visa or residence permit.

"Therefore, any entry can have serious consequences for the security of one member state or the entire Schengen area. Inaction would create long-term vulnerabilities that can still be avoided at this stage. Thus, decisive and coordinated action is urgently needed to prevent negative consequences," the leaders wrote.

The Presidential office said the leaders emphasized the need to strengthen European Union level cooperation to address the threat proactively and consistently.

The letter also refers to the new European Commission visa policy strategy, which allows for targeted restrictive visa measures if relations with a third country deteriorate, including measures covering "identified former and current combatants of the aggressor state."

"Therefore, we invite the Commission, in close cooperation with the European External Action Service and relevant Council structures, to urgently examine and propose concrete next steps that could be implemented at the EU level, including targeted amendments to the Visa Code or other appropriate legal instruments, to enable a coordinated European approach. The goal should be to avoid fragmentation and ensure consistent security protection across the entire Schengen area," the letter said.

The leaders called on member states to join the initiative and strengthen operational cooperation.

"Given the seriousness of the issue, we believe this problem requires attention at the highest political level and a coordinated European response, which should be reflected in the March European Council conclusions," the letter added.