Brussels, June 9 -- The European Union on Tuesday proposes a comprehensive visa ban on "former combatants of the Russian armed forces and its proxy groups" as part of a sweeping new sanctions package aimed at increasing pressure on Moscow over its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Announcing the measures in a series of posts on X, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, said the bloc intends to prevent former Russian military personnel and members of proxy groups from entering Europe.

"Europe's door should not be open to Russia's (ex-)combatants. We will introduce a comprehensive visa ban for (ex-)combatants of the Russian armed forces and its proxy groups," Kallas...