EU keeps borders open for Russians but tightens visa rules

Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics.

Will the EU close its border to Russian tourists?

No, it will be more difficult to get a visa if you are a Russian, but I think we have an interest in keeping our borders open. There's roughly, I think, 400,000 Russians who've left Russia since the invasion, and they've done it because they don't consider the Russia to be the country where they want to spend their future. There might be more of those coming, and we should keep the borders open for them.

How is the Ukrainian counter offensive in the Kherson region moving?

That, we simply don't know. A counter offensive of this sort, and there's no doubt that the Ukrainians have started one, they are trying to advance, they might be advancing. But I will say it's going to take a week or so until we know. There are all the signs that the Russians are trying to reinforce, and that's a good sign that they are getting nervous and they are on the defensive.