Context: Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied media reports suggesting that a Ukrainian delegation might travel to Moscow for peace talks. He stated that Ukraine is prepared to meet on the territory of any neutral country, except Russia and Belarus.
On February 6, 2026, Elizaveta Hlushakova of the Political Science Centre of the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus appeared on the First National Channel of Belarusian Radio to discuss the second round of negotiations on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. She called the representatives of the European Union “warmongers,” repeating the words of Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The studio hostess and radio host of the programme Aktualny Mikrofon, Alena Davidovich, repeated another pro-Kremlin narrative. She called NATO’s support for Ukraine an occupation. The participants in the conversation agreed that Russia would not be happy about the deployment of Western equipment and troops in Ukraine, nor with the country’s accession to the EU. However, according to the presenter, the latter has already turned its back on Ukrainians.
“Here is the latest information: ‘From the end of 2026, visas for Ukrainians to the European Union will again become paid. They need a system to handle visa issues. So, they introduced mandatory authorisation for all travellers. The price of one application is €20,” Davidovich said, quoting a publication, but she did not specify the source of the information. “Converted into hryvnia, the cost will be 1,016 UAH. It would also be impossible to apply for an entire family or group. Each member would need to be handled individually. Remember that in 2013, the visa cost for Ukrainians was €35; now it costs €20.”
In fact, the EU is not cancelling visa-free travel for Ukrainians. The EU plans to introduce the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in the fourth quarter of 2026. The service will cost €20. The main difference between the two systems is that a visa is a physical entry permit processed through a consulate, whereas ETIAS is an electronic authorisation obtained online. The measure will apply not only to Ukrainians but to citizens of all countries that have signed visa-free agreements with the European Union, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, Georgia, and Serbia.
The ETIAS system involves filling out a short online questionnaire, paying the fee, and receiving a response within a few minutes in most cases. The response is valid for three years, unless your passport expires sooner.
By contrast, applying for a visa involves collecting a package of documents, making an appointment at a visa centre or queuing at an embassy, having your fingerprints taken, and waiting for a decision. Belarusians who travel to the EU know this firsthand. Belarusian citizens must pay a €35 consular fee to enter the Schengen area. However, some countries charge more. For example, Norway and Denmark charge €80. If you apply through a visa centre, you will need to pay a service fee of at least €11. The services of intermediaries will cost an additional €70–€550.
ETIAS is not a unique system. A similar system has been in place in the US since 2008, becoming mandatory in 2009. Citizens of countries with which Washington has signed a visa-free travel agreement must obtain authorisation through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
