The EU is discussing a dialed-down version of its proposed visa ban on Russian soldiers, limiting the measure to short-stay visas and only to those directly participating in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The European Commission initially planned a wider ban within the upcoming 21st sanctions package, aiming to bar anyone who has served in the war against Ukraine, but has revisited the text due to objections from France and Italy. According to Euronews, the bloc aims to adopt the package by mid-July to avoid an automatic revision of the Russian oil price cap.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. While not completely opposing a ban on Moscow’s former soldiers, Italy and France raised concerns about the visa measure, arguing that the targeted travel ban may be handled more effectively through visa policy rather than sanctions. One practical concern with the EU’s proposal is that it would leave it up to individual member states to determine which citizens fought in the war – a determination that is far from straightforward. A narrower definition of a “combatant” The initial text of the travel ban barred from entry anyone who served in Russia’s armed forces, including administrative and logistics staff. The revised text now applies only to individuals who directly participated in either Russia’s armed forces or in irregular Moscow-controlled units fighting the war. “By signing a contract to fight a criminal war of aggression against Ukraine, they also sign an entry ban to Europe,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, adding that the measure is “fair” and arguing that those who “fight a war to harm Europe and European states” should not be allowed to travel to the EU. He also urged all EU member states to back the proposal.