There are hopes that "if there is peace, everything will immediately calm down" around the war in Ukraine. However, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Sahkna says that this scenario doesn't always work so simply. In an interview with The Telegraph, he noted that Russia could use any ceasefire in Ukraine to "turn the threat towards Europe."
According to the minister, the danger lies in the fact that some individuals who participated in the war - including those with a criminal past and former prisoners - may subsequently attempt to enter European territory. He said that such people are likely to be seen as a threat to public safety, and therefore Europe needs to be prepared in advance.
In this context, Sakhna called on EU countries to take more stringent measures: to drastically restrict entry into the Schengen Area for Russians participating in the war against Ukraine, and to introduce a common approach to working visas and residence permits.
These words are not a call suspended in the air. According to open sources, Estonia has already banned the entry of a group of Russians fighting against Ukraine and called on other countries to do the same in a coordinated manner.
Another important point: in a conversation with journalists, Sakhna emphasized that Russia has a large stratum of military experience, and Europe needs to plan ahead for the risks of the "post-peace period."
The conclusion is simple: "peace" doesn't mean "all danger is over." The next question for Europe is how to check whom, how to identify dangerous individuals, and how to implement this not individually, but collectively. Yes, it's like bureaucracy. But when it comes to security, the "we'll see later" mode is usually the most expensive.
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