Italy and France are resisting the European Union’s proposal to ban former Russian combatants from entering the bloc, raising concerns about the measure and fearing it could lead to a blanket prohibition on Russian citizens.According to Bloomberg, citing sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the two countries’ reservations surfaced ahead of a Friday meeting among EU member states to discuss the proposed 21st sanctions package targeting Russia for its war against Ukraine.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.Rome and Paris are not opposed to barring Moscow’s former soldiers, the sources said. However, they argued that the targeted travel ban may be handled more effectively through visa policy rather than sanctions.They have also raised a practical concern – the EU’s proposal would leave it up to individual member states to determine which citizens have fought in the war – a determination deemed far from straightforward.A broader package in disputeThe ban on ex-combatants is just one element of a wide-ranging sanctions package that also aims to freeze the EU’s price cap on Russian oil, restrict Moscow’s energy revenues, and impose additional controls on banks, cryptocurrency operators, and tankers that help Russia circumvent existing restrictions.The oil price cap has become a particular sticking point. Under current EU rules, the price cap automatically adjusts every six months to remain 15% below the average market price of Russian Urals crude.