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Anti-Russian sanctions

Kiev not to introduce visas for Russians in near future, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says

"There are no conditions for the visas to be introduced so far", the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said

KIEV, February 8 /TASS/. Kiev is not planning to introduce visas for Russians in the near future, Yevgeny Perebeinos, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a Ukrainian TV channel on Saturday.

"There are no conditions for the visas to be introduced so far," Perebeinos said.

He added that foreign passports would make it easier to exercise control over Russians who cross into Ukraine.

"Internal passports do not give a chance to thoroughly control the duration of stay upon exit from Ukraine like foreign passports. If a person has violated the rules of sojourn in Ukraine, he may never be allowed to enter Ukraine again," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed.

Earlier this week, the Ukrainian government decided to ban Russian nationals to enter Ukraine on internal /Russian/ passports as of March 1, 2015. After that date, Russians will be able to travel to Ukraine only on foreign passports.

In response to Ukraine’s move, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia would preserve the existing order of crossing the state border for Ukrainians despite the recent decisions made in Kiev.

"Kiev’s decision can cause nothing but regret. The Ukrainian side’s actions will make it much harder for millions of people in both countries to contact with each and will seriously aggravate ties between relatives and border regions. On the contrary, we think it’s important to preserve the previous order of crossing the state border," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

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Sanctions vs. Russia

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

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