KIEV, March 20 (RIA Novosti) – Kiev should be wary of introducing a visa regime with Russia as it could negatively impact Ukrainians, the country’s interim prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said on Thursday.
The comment came after calls to introduce a visa requirement for Russians traveling to the country, following Kiev’s outraged objections to the reunification of Crimea with Russia after 60 years as part of Ukraine. Ukrainians and Russians are currently able to cross the border without a visa.
“This Ukrainian initiative can hardly be effective in terms of influencing the Russian Federation,” the Ukrainian cabinet’s press service quoted Yatsenyuk as saying.
Yatsenyuk, who is currently on a two-day visit to Brussels, added that many Ukrainians in the predominantly Russian-speaking southeastern regions of the country are interested in preserving the visa-free regime, as they often work in Russia and have relatives there.
