The Head of the Security Service of Ukraine called for the introduction of a visa regime with Russia
Vasyl Hrytsak, the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) deems it advisable to introduce a regime of limited entry into the territory of the state for the citizens of Russian Federation under which only owners of biometric passports will have the right to visa-free entry into the country.
“From June 11, we have actually the opportunity to visit Europe with biometric passports without visas. Why shouldn’t we make arrangements so that citizens from the Russian Federation could enter Ukraine if they at least have similar documents? Such a measure could be adopted at this stage,” he said to journalists in Kyiv on Thursday.
The head of the SBU noted that the present situation with Russia is not the fault of its citizens. According to him, political leaders, ideologists of the ‘Moscow machine’ are guilty, having caused trouble between Ukrainian and Russian peoples.
“Now it will be very difficult to move away from this because in our shared history there is already blood, death and much that divides instead of uniting,” Hrytsak added.
He also noted the threat posed by the Russian special services to Ukraine citizens visiting Russia for private business or for job placement.
According to the Hrytsak, Russian special service agents have attempted to recruit Ukrainians visiting Russia. Moreover, their recruitment tactics include the use of psychological as well as physical pressure.
While Hrytsak supports the idea of a visa regime with Russia, it is not an entirely new issue. Previously, Oleksandr Turchynov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said that the issue of visa regime with Russia has already turned overripe.