On 30 July 2026, High Representative/Vice-President Kallas, answering a parliamentary question, defended the EU's proposed visa ban for Russian (ex-)combatants as a security measure, while declining to commit to a similar ban for Israeli soldiers. The answer, given on behalf of the European Commission, stresses that the EU upholds international law in all circumstances and that there is no hierarchy of victims, but it does not extend the visa ban rationale to Israeli forces.
The question, tabled by 24 MEPs from the Greens/EFA, The Left, S&D, and Renew groups, including Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE) and Marc Botenga (The Left), referenced the Commission's 9 June 2026 announcement of the 21st sanctions package against Russia, which included a comprehensive visa ban for Russian combatants. The MEPs also cited a 20 June 2025 note by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights documenting serious violations by Israeli forces, and noted French and Italian prosecutors' probes into alleged war crimes and torture. They asked whether the same criterion could be applied to Israeli soldiers and whether the VP/HR would propose such a measure.
Kallas's answer reiterates that Russian combatants, many recruited from prisons and radicalised by Russian tactics, pose a threat to EU security and values. It does not address the transposability of the measure to Israeli soldiers, instead pointing to the EU's 28 May 2026 adoption of restrictive measures against extremist Israeli settlers and organisations responsible for abuses in the West Bank. The answer signals that the EU will consider additional listings when necessary, but stops short of proposing a visa ban for Israeli military personnel.
the EU applies a security-based visa ban to Russian combatants, while for Israeli actors it relies on targeted listings against settlers, not a blanket ban on soldiers. This distinction may reflect differing legal and political contexts, but the answer does not provide explicit justification for the divergence. The EU's approach to Israel remains focused on specific individuals and entities, whereas the Russia measure is broader, targeting all combatants returning from the front. Stakeholders affected include EU member states' border and visa authorities, who would implement any ban; Russian and Israeli nationals subject to potential restrictions; and EU foreign policy actors balancing security concerns with diplomatic relations. The answer provides no concrete timeline or new proposals, leaving the door open for future listings but no immediate action on Israeli soldiers.