The European Union (EU) is preparing to impose travel restrictions on Russian diplomats across member states, according to a report by the Financial Times. The move is aimed at tightening oversight on Moscow’s diplomatic corps amid ongoing concerns over espionage and intelligence operations being conducted under diplomatic cover.
Under the proposed plan, Russian envoys will be required to notify local authorities before traveling outside their assigned host countries. This measure is designed to make it more difficult for intelligence operatives to move freely within the bloc, EU officials familiar with the discussions said.
The Czech Republic reportedly led the push for these new restrictions, while Hungary, previously seen as a holdout on anti-Russia measures, is now expected to lift its veto, clearing the path for approval.
European security services have warned that Russian diplomatic missions continue to serve as key hubs for information gathering and covert operations, particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine. The travel notification rule, if implemented, would mark one of the EU’s most direct attempts yet to disrupt such networks.
