MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The European Union's latest decision to grant Ukrainian citizens 90-day visa-free travel is a "carrot on a string" that does little in the way of easing the current system, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov said Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, the EU Council approved the liberalization of the visa regime with Ukraine, allowing those who travel "for business, tourist or family purposes" to enter and stay in the European Union for up to 90 days.
"We understand that the so-called visa-free regime with Ukraine is to some extent this carrot on a string that slightly eases the existing system," Meshkov said at the Valdai Discussion Club.
The deputy minister pointed out that the restriction on the duration of stay remained and that the new regulations had "nothing to do with work authorization."
He added that Russia is "not ready to take unilateral steps" regarding the issue of visas with the European Union.
