Italy against banning Russians from entering Europe — TASS diplomatic source According to earlier reports, the European Commission is preparing to tighten the EU's visa policy this fall by introducing new criteria meant to prohibit citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Iran from entering the EU as a touristROME, June 30. /TASS/. Italy does not support the proposed ban on issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens hoping to enter the EU zone, an Italian diplomatic source told TASS. "The facts speak for themselves," the source said, commenting on data showing that Italy is the biggest EU issuer of tourist visas to Russians. Earlier, a diplomatic source in Brussels told TASS that the European Commission is preparing to tighten the EU's visa policy this fall by introducing new criteria meant to prohibit citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Iran from entering the EU as a tourist. The European Commission intends to test this mechanism by banning participants of the special military operation from entering the EU, which is included in the 21st sanctions package against Russia. In early May, the European statistical agency Eurostat reported that EU countries issued 620,000 visas to Russians in 2025, which is 10.2% more than in 2024 and is a record since the start of the special military operation. 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seaborne shipments of diesel and gasoline to the Kaliningrad RegionRead moreFrontline developments reinforce confidence that Russia’s goals to be achieved — KremlinRussia's position on the settlement is well known and remains consistent, Dmitry Peskov said Read moreUS will support efforts to restore unity in Libya — top diplomatUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that he had discussed with Deputy Commander of the Libyan National Army Saddam Haftar "unifying Libya's military and building the conditions for lasting peace"Read moreTop of EU filled with 'losers' — Otto von Bismarck's descendantWhat is needed today is real, effective policy that acknowledges what’s happening right now, Alexander von Bismarck saidRead moreEurope has injected only one-third of the gas volumes needed for winter by end-JuneInjection rates this year have been significantly affected by Europe's lost battle with Asia for available LNG volumes during the Middle East conflict, higher fuel prices and extreme heat 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signed commercial agreements and memorandums with the EU worth a total of over $12 billionRead moreGrowth in trade between Russia, India creates new business opportunities — trade missionThe volume of trade between the countries exceeds $70 bln, Russia’s Deputy Trade Representative in India Evgeny Griva saidRead moreFinland lifting its ban on nukes requires Russian response, diplomat saysMaria Zakharova lambasted the move as unfounded, given repeated statements from leading Finnish politicians and relevant agencies in the Nordic country that Russia does not pose a direct military threat to FinnsRead morePress review: Ceasefire strain amid US-Iran tensions and Finnish nuclear plans near RussiaTop stories from the Russian press on Monday, June 29thRead moreGuterres says terrorists learn to new technologies"Terrorists have grown adept at exploiting emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and unmanned weapons," the UN secretary general saidRead morePress review: Peace in Lebanon under threat and Germany readies military draft returnTop stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, June 30thRead moreMeeting with E3 ambassadors, Gyumri base, referendum on EAEU: senior diplomat’s statementsContacts through the human rights commissioners of Russia and Ukraine have turned out to be the only channel through which humanitarian issues can be discussed, Mikhail Galuzin notedRead more
Lukoil refinery in Bulgaria granted right to buy oil from Swiss counterparties
• What happened: The Lukoil Neftohim Burgas refinery in Bulgaria has been granted the right to purchase oil from any Swiss counterparty starting July 1, followi...