The European Union has begun examining a proposal to ban Russian soldiers who fought in Ukraine from entering the bloc, amid concerns they could pose a future security threat.The initiative was tabled by Estonia during a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers on Thursday. Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna urged member states to adopt a coordinated approach to blacklisting former combatants in a post-war scenario.“We have close to one million combatants in Russia. They’re mainly criminals. They are very dangerous people,” Tsahkna said, warning that many could seek to travel to Europe once the war ends. “There can be no path from Bucha to Brussels,” he added, referencing atrocities committed in Ukraine.Earlier this month, Estonia imposed a permanent entry ban on 261 Russian soldiers involved in the full-scale invasion.EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said “many member states” had voiced support for discussing the proposal further. She described the issue as a “clear security risk” and said the bloc must prepare for questions that could arise if a ceasefire is reached.The European Commission, which coordinates visa policy, would play a central role in any decision. Last year, it tightened Schengen visa rules for Russian passport holders, limiting them to single-entry permits.While politically sensitive, the matter falls under migration policy, meaning approval would require a qualified majority rather than unanimity.Russian President Vladimir Putin said in December that around 700,000 Russian troops were fighting in Ukraine, highlighting the potential scale and logistical challenges of any EU-wide blacklist.What do you make of this?•