The head of the consular department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Ivan Volynkin, said Russia could not disregard even apparent improbable scenarios should consular ties with the rest of the Schengen Agreement member states be radically reduced.
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"The Russian ministry is carefully recording calls coming from Europe to stop issuing Schengen visas to Russians. Most of these statements come from odious politicians and Russophobes," Volynkin said amid hostility from Western countries in connection with the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
According to the Russian official, the Foreign Ministry maintains its support for preserving the possibility of mutual travel of Russian and European citizens, as it expects pragmatism and common sense from the EU.
Visualizing the hypothetical scenario in which the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens is abolished, Volynkin said, "We could count on the possibility of creating visa cooperation on a bilateral basis with European nations through individual negotiations."
Russians may no longer get visas Schengen. "In light of the actions of the West, Russia does not rule out a scenario in which Russians will no longer be issued Schengen visas. Ivan Volynkin, Director of the Consular Department of the MFA.
Following the Russian special military operation in Ukraine last February 24, the West and its allies in Europe have resorted to a wide range of economic sanctions against Russia to undermine its economy and politics.