Retaliatory visa measures are being developed in Russia, said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday as another top Kremlin official said U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent comments are a “cause for concern.”
During public comments, Lavrov said that the new visa measures would restrict entry for citizens from “unfriendly” nations. He did not provide details about the countries that would be targeted, but he did single out the United States and its allies.
“Additionally, a draft presidential decree is currently being developed on retaliatory visa measures in connection with the unfriendly actions of a number of foreign states,” he said during a meeting in Moscow, according to state-run media. “This act will introduce a number of restrictions on entry to the territory of Russia.”
Some measures are being developed to “respond to unfriendly actions by the United States and its satellites,” Lavrov also said.
It comes as the Kremlin issued more statements following Biden’s speech last week in Poland, where he said Putin “cannot stay in power.”
“These statements are certainly causing concern,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday. “We will continue to closely monitor the statements of the U.S. president. We carefully note them and will continue to do so,” Peskov added.
Over this past weekend, White House officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, disputed claims that Biden was suggesting a regime change in Russia.
Russia and Ukraine said their delegations would arrive in Turkey on Monday, with the talks due to start on Tuesday. Ukrainian officials have recently suggested Russia could be more willing to compromise having seen stiff Ukrainian resistance and heavy Russian losses.
Russia’s military also signaled last week it would concentrate on expanding territory held by separatists in eastern Ukraine, a month after having committed the bulk of its huge invasion force to a failed assault on Kyiv.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, told journalists on Monday that he would be willing to meet with Putin in person but suggested the meeting occur outside Russia.
“We must come to an agreement with the president of the Russian Federation, and in order to reach an agreement, he needs to get out of there on his own feet … and come to meet me,” he said, according to an Associated Press translation of his comments.
But Ukraine said it saw no sign Russia had given up a plan to surround the capital, where the mayor, former Vitali Klitschko, said 100 people had been killed, including 4 children, and 82 multi-story buildings had been destroyed. It was not possible to verify the figures.
Neither side has budged over Russia’s territorial demands, including Crimea, which Moscow seized and annexed in 2014, and eastern territories known as the Donbas, which Moscow demands Kyiv cede to separatists.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter at The Epoch Times based in New York.
Retaliatory visa measures are being developed in Russia, said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday as another top Kremlin official said U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent comments are a “cause for concern.” During public comments, Lavrov said that the new visa measures would restrict entry for citizens from “unfriendly” nations. He did not provide details about the countries that would be targeted, but he did single out the United States and its allies. “Additionally, a draft presidential decree is currently being developed on retaliatory visa measures in connection with the unfriendly actions of a number of foreign states,” he said during a meeting in Moscow, according to state-run media. “This act will introduce a number of restrictions on entry to the territory of Russia.” Some measures are being developed to “respond to unfriendly actions by the United States and its satellites,” Lavrov also said. It comes as the Kremlin issued more statements following Biden’s speech last week in Poland, where he said Putin “cannot stay in power.” “These statements are certainly causing concern,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday. “We will continue to closely monitor the statements of the U.S. president. We carefully note them and will continue to do so,” Peskov added. Over this past weekend, White House officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, disputed claims that Biden was suggesting a regime change in Russia. Russia and Ukraine said their delegations would arrive in Turkey on Monday, with the talks due to start on Tuesday. Ukrainian officials have recently suggested Russia could be more willing to compromise having seen stiff Ukrainian resistance and heavy Russian losses. Russia’s military also signaled last week it would concentrate on expanding territory held by separatists in eastern Ukraine, a month after having committed the bulk of its huge invasion force to a failed assault on Kyiv. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, told journalists on Monday that he would be willing to meet with Putin in person but suggested the meeting occur outside Russia. “We must come to an agreement with the president of the Russian Federation, and in order to reach an agreement, he needs to get out of there on his own feet … and come to meet me,” he said, according to an Associated Press translation of his comments. But Ukraine said it saw no sign Russia had given up a plan to surround the capital, where the mayor, former Vitali Klitschko, said 100 people had been killed, including 4 children, and 82 multi-story buildings had been destroyed. It was not possible to verify the figures. Neither side has budged over Russia’s territorial demands, including Crimea, which Moscow seized and annexed in 2014, and eastern territories known as the Donbas, which Moscow demands Kyiv cede to separatists. Reuters contributed to this report. Follow Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter at The Epoch Times based in New York.