Russia will decide on reciprocal measures to Kiev’s visa regime for Russian citizens by January, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second Department of CIS Countries Alexey Polishchuk said.
Kiev withdrew in mid-June from the 1997 Russia-Ukraine agreement on citizens’ visa-free trips and from July 1 banned the entry of Russian citizens into Ukraine without visas, the senior Russian diplomat recalled.
"By denouncing the treaty, the Ukrainian authorities deliberately sought to inflict maximum damage on contacts between citizens of our countries and rupture kinship and friendly ties," he pointed out. Under the terms of the agreement, it is valid until January 1, 2023. We are observing it. The issue of reciprocal measures is being worked out. A decision will be made until the expiry of the agreement, taking into account all these circumstances," the high-ranking Russian diplomat said.
These "should not be tit-for-tat measures," he stressed. "First of all, we should be guided by the interests of Russia and our citizens and take humanitarian aspects into account. Ordinary Ukrainians, including refugees, who seek our protection from Ukrainian nationalists, are experiencing huge difficulties even without that. We also do not forget about family and other bonds that unite our citizens. A decision should be made before the expiry of the term of the agreement, taking into account all these circumstances," he explained.
