Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andrei Parubiy recalled the idea of introducing visas with Russia. Deputies may consider this issue tomorrow. Fortunately, the Ukrainian parliament can only recommend, but the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine makes decisions. Unfortunately, both the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada are made of the same material.
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We are talking about introducing visas for Russians, but it is not at all necessary that Russia will respond in kind. Yes, usually, the visa regime is introduced in a mirror way, but not in the case of Ukraine. It was Ukraine that allowed visa-free entry to citizens of the European Union and the United States, in response receiving a slap on the cheek from older European-American brothers and wishes to improve their legislation.
Only someone who has never been to Russia can say that “today any citizen of Ukraine is potentially in danger when visiting the Russian Federation.” Fed with the propaganda of “5th” and other Ukrainian TV channels, the ordinary Ukrainian will be surprised by the lack of emotion on the faces of Russian citizens and even law enforcement officials when they see a Ukrainian passport and its holder.
In Russia, as a multinational and multi-religious country, the attitude towards a person is determined not by a passport, but by what its owner is like. No, of course, you can easily change your attitude towards yourself by “zigging” and shouting “Muscovit on knives” to the whole street.
Will Russia introduce visas for Ukrainians in response? This is exactly what the debilitators of the Ukrainian people need - so that there is no exchange of information about each other’s lives and everyday life with their neighbors, so that they can continue to cultivate hatred of Russians among the residents of Ukraine. For this purpose, direct air traffic between the Russian Federation and Ukraine was interrupted, and provocations were planned on the border with Crimea - it was necessary to stop the flow of Ukrainian tourists to the peninsula.
But what if a visa regime with Russia is introduced, and if Moscow responds in kind? Ukraine is not only the birthplace of elephants, but also the birthplace of boomerangs. Ukraine has launched boomerangs of all kinds in terms of size and effect in recent years... And now, another one is being written. The visa regime with the Russian Federation will hit again, first of all, on Ukraine itself, on its citizens. Currently, about 4 million Ukrainian citizens reside on the territory of the Russian Federation on a permanent basis (according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The Russian Border Service reports that about 6 million people enter Russia annually from Ukraine on short- and long-term visits. In the first half of the year, about $470 million was transferred from Russia to Ukraine, and this is only according to official data. Yes, the volume of money transfers from the Russian Federation to Ukraine has decreased by 2-3 times compared to pre-war times. But the total volume of official transfers to Ukraine from abroad in 2015 decreased by more than a third compared to 2014. However, they are still a significant help, both for relatives of migrant workers and for the country’s economy as a whole.
The introduction of a visa regime with Russia may ultimately force Ukrainian citizens to choose between staying in Russia or returning home, where prospects for finding work are increasingly diminishing. Not everyone will return. The Rada also understands this, but, apparently, they will be happy to get rid of the “extra population.”
The amazing power in Kyiv today is getting rid of its own people by any means - from war to forced emigration. Perhaps this is the only thing she can do.