Introduction of Visa Regime With Russia to Be Disadvantageous for Ukraine - Kiev

The introduction of the visa regime with Moscow will have a negative impact on Kiev, as about three million of Ukrainians are residing in Russia, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said in an interview published on Friday.

KIEV (Sputnik) — On October 3, the speaker of Ukraine's parliament said that he wanted to renew debate on the visa regime introduction with Russia.

"If we cancel the visa free regime [with Russia], thousands of our people will be standing in queues at the border. It will be absolutely disadvantageous for us… Half of our nationals are considering Russia to be a brotherly and friendly country, and they continue traveling there," Prystaiko told the Ukrinform news agency.

In November, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said that Moscow would take a tit-for-tat measure if Kiev introduced visa travel.