Italy and France Resist EU Push to Ban Former Russian Soldiers from Entering the Bloc

The European Union has put forward a proposal that would prohibit former Russian soldiers from entering the bloc, framing it as a security measure amid ongoing concerns about Russian military activity and the war in Ukraine. However, the initiative is facing significant resistance from two of the EU's largest and most influential members — Italy and France — whose hesitation threatens to stall or dilute the proposal before it can advance. The pushback from Rome and Paris underscores a broader pattern of policy divergence within the EU on how aggressively to confront security threats linked to Russia. While some member states favor hardline restrictions, others appear concerned about the legal, diplomatic, or humanitarian implications of blanket bans targeting individuals based on prior military service. ## Latest Update As of June 25, 2026, reporting from Bloomberg via the Financial Post confirms that Italy and France are actively hesitant about the proposed ban, according to people familiar with the matter. This represents the first confirmed indication of named member-state opposition to the measure, signaling that the proposal faces a meaningful internal obstacle within EU deliberations. ## Timeline - **2026-06-25**: Bloomberg reports that Italy and France are resisting an EU proposal to ban former Russian combatants from entering the bloc, citing unnamed sources familiar with the negotiations. ## What to Watch - **EU negotiation outcomes**: Monitor whether Italy and France's opposition leads to a watered-down version of the proposal, a full stall, or a coalition of other member states pushing it forward without consensus. - **Escalation of internal EU divisions**: This disagreement may reflect deeper fault lines on Russia policy; watch for other member states publicly declaring their positions, which could signal broader bloc fragmentation on security strategy. - **Security incident linkage**: Any incident involving a former Russian soldier within EU territory could rapidly shift political momentum and pressure holdout nations to reconsider their opposition.