EU Agrees to Restrict Russian Diplomats' Travel Over Espionage Concerns

The European Union is moving to impose new restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats within its member states due to concerns over espionage activities, including arson, cyberattacks, and sabotage of infrastructure in NATO countries. Proposed rules would require Russian diplomats stationed in EU capitals to notify other governments of their travel plans before crossing borders within the bloc, aiming to curb covert operations by spies posing as diplomats. This initiative, supported by the Czech Republic and Hungary, is part of the EU's broader 19th sanctions package against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. However, final adoption may face delays due to Austria's demand to ease sanctions on assets linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. EU intelligence highlights that Russian spies often manage operations outside their host countries to evade counterintelligence, prompting the EU to take a firmer stance. These restrictions are expected to further strain EU-Russian relations and could impact diplomatic and business interactions within the bloc.