In a letter addressed to European Union leaders, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda highlights the significant and lasting consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine on European security. He emphasizes the changing security landscape and the impact on EU citizens' safety and the Schengen area. With the ongoing conflict, there are concerns regarding the movement of former and current Russian fighters into the Schengen Zone, which raises serious internal security threats.

Nausėda points out that individuals who have participated in the aggressor state's armed forces represent a tangible domestic security risk. This includes potential violent crimes, organized criminal network activities, and extremist movements, along with operations conducted by hostile states in the broader context of Russia's hybrid warfare strategies. The letter notes that among these individuals are many former convicts who have been recruited from Russian prisons and sent to the front lines, suggesting a troubling trend contributing to the risk of increased violence and instability.

As rotations and possible demobilization occur within Russian military ranks, the likelihood of individuals with recent combat experience seeking to travel abroad is increasing. The leaders who signed this letter express concern that such movement could lead to greater threats to European security, necessitating urgent action from EU nations to address these issues and safeguard the Schengen area from potential infiltration and violence.