? 12 min read

When geopolitics crashes your love story

Last week, I received a message that really struck a chord with me. A loyal viewer of our weekly YouTube LIVE sessions wrote:

"Dear Sir, I've been following you for a short while now, and your LIVE broadcasts are particularly insightful. I would like to know if it is currently possible to correspond by email with a Russian woman? Also, you used to offer Russian women — are they still part of your services? (...) I forgot to mention that I've been playing chess for many years, all over the world via the internet, but because of Putin's restrictions, since August 2025 it has been impossible for me to maintain contact with Russian chess players. Is there any solution?"

I receive variations of this question almost every day. And it reveals a deep concern among many single or separated men in Canada, the United States, and Europe: the world has changed, and with it the conditions for meeting and marrying a Slavic woman.

Because yes, in 2026, bringing a Russian woman to your country and bringing a Ukrainian woman are absolutely not the same thing anymore. And if you're seriously considering building a life with an Eastern European woman — not a one-night stand, not an exotic whim, but a marriage for life — then you need to understand the administrative and geopolitical reality before you take the plunge.

That's exactly what this article is about. So settle in, grab a coffee (or a cup of tea, Russian-style), and read what follows carefully. It could very well change your life.

  Section 1 — Men in Canada: an administrative wall for Russian women

Let's start with Canada, since it's CQMI's home base. The situation is clear — and brutal.

Since the sanctions imposed against Russia starting in 2022 and continuously reinforced since then, Canada has considerably tightened its entry conditions for Russian citizens. But the final blow came in January 2026: Canadian visa application centres in Russia stopped accepting documents. In practical terms, a Russian woman who wants to apply for a Canadian visa must now physically travel to Armenia or Kazakhstan to submit her file. Needless to say, this complicates things enormously.

One of our Quebec clients — let's call him Marc — had started a wonderful correspondence with Irina, a Russian woman from Saint Petersburg. Everything was going beautifully. Then came the moment to bring her to Quebec for a first in-person meeting. And that's when the battle began. Weeks of waiting, a file to submit in Yerevan, and in the end… a visa refusal. Marc called me, devastated: "Antoine, I don't understand. She's serious, I'm serious. Why is it so complicated?"

The answer is simple: geopolitics doesn't care about your feelings.

Moreover, let's remember that Canada doesn't have a "fiancée visa" like the United States. To bring your future wife over, she either needs to obtain a visitor visa (increasingly difficult for Russians) or you must already be married and begin a spousal sponsorship process. The latter takes an average of 10 to 13 months from abroad — and can take much longer with the enhanced security checks applied to Russian files.

What about a Ukrainian woman in Canada?

The situation is significantly more favourable, though still demanding. Ukrainian women don't face the same sanctions-related restrictions. Canada even established the CUAET program (Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel) in 2022, which facilitated the arrival of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians. Although the program has ended, its effects paved the way. A visitor visa for a Ukrainian woman is achievable, but you'll need a solid file and patience.

  Section 2 — Men in the United States: the door is closing for Russians

Our American friends aren't any better off — and the situation has deteriorated dramatically since the new Trump administration took office in 2025.

Two successive presidential executive orders have upended the immigration landscape. In June 2025, a first "travel ban" restricted visas for dozens of countries. Then, in December 2025, Presidential Proclamation 10998 expanded the restrictions: since January 1st, 2026, student visas (F, J) have been suspended for Russians, and since January 21st, 2026, immigrant visa processing for Russia has been completely frozen.

What does this mean in practice for the famous K-1 (fiancée visa)? Technically, the K-1 program is still active. But in reality, Russians face "extreme vetting" that extends processing times considerably. The denial rate has climbed to approximately 30% of applications. And with the freeze on immigrant visa processing, the whole process becomes an administrative nightmare.

For Ukrainian women in the United States? It's also difficult — Ukraine is also on the list of 75 countries whose immigrant visas have been frozen since January 2026. But non-immigrant visas (tourist, K-1 fiancée) remain technically accessible, though subject to enhanced scrutiny.

  Section 3 — Men in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany: is Europe the promised land?

This is where the situation becomes truly interesting for the majority of our members. Because Europe — and France in particular — remains the most favourable geographic zone for marrying an Eastern European woman, whether Russian or Ukrainian.

  Marrying a Ukrainian woman in France

The process is relatively well established. If you're a French citizen and you marry a Ukrainian woman (whether the wedding takes place in France, Ukraine, or a third country), your wife can apply for a long-stay visa as a "spouse of a French national". This visa serves as both a residence permit and a work authorization for one year. The application is submitted to the nearest French consulate — in Poland, Romania, or in Ukraine itself if she still resides there.

The average timeline? Expect 8 to 12 months for the entire process, including the OFII filing, prefectoral approval, and visa issuance. It's not fast, but it's achievable and predictable.

I remember Philippe, a 52-year-old from Lyon, who had married Oksana in Lviv in 2024. Six months later, Oksana was settled in Lyon. Philippe told me with a broad smile: "Antoine, it's the best investment of my life. Not the money — the time I spent properly preparing the file."

  Marrying a Russian woman in France

It's more complicated, but — and this is the good news for Europeans — not impossible. Unlike Canada and the United States, Europe has not imposed a total ban on visas for Russian citizens. The Schengen visa facilitation agreement with Russia was indeed suspended in September 2022, meaning applications take longer, cost more, and face greater scrutiny. But the process remains open.

Russian visa centres in France (managed by Artionis) remain closed in 2026, which means visa applications must be made directly through the consulate. But a Russian woman can still obtain a Schengen visa — short-stay or long-stay — for France, provided she puts together an impeccable file.

The administrative steps for marrying a Slavic woman in France can seem complex — document transcription, long-stay visa, OFII… Our team supports you every step of the way. Don't hesitate to write to us to discuss it.

  Section 4 — Travelling to meet her: Russia vs Ukraine in 2026

You're convinced, your heart has chosen. But you still need to be able to meet her in person. And that's where things get very concrete.

  Travelling to Russia in 2026: a risky venture

On paper, a French citizen can still obtain a visa for Russia — either an e-Visa (for a stay of up to 30 days) or a standard visa through the consulate. Canadians and Americans also have access to a standard visa, although processing centres on the ground are closed.

But beyond the administrative aspect, the reality is quite different. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally advises against all travel to Russia. The Canadian and U.S. governments issue similar warnings. And for good reason: diplomatic tensions are such that a Western citizen in Russia finds themselves in a vulnerable position. The arrest of Western journalists, restrictions on communications, the gradual closure of international banking channels… all of this makes a stay in Russia potentially dangerous.

Our chess-playing friend experienced this bitterly online. Imagine what it would be like in person.

  Travelling to Ukraine in 2026: possible but with caution

Ukraine is at war — let's be clear about that. The airspace has been closed since February 2022. You can't fly to Kyiv. But you can get there overland from Poland, and that's what more and more of our clients are doing.

The classic route? A flight to Warsaw or Krakow, then a train or bus to Lviv. The western regions of Ukraine — Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, the Carpathians — are considered relatively safe, due to their distance from the front lines and their proximity to NATO and EU borders.

One of our members, Bernard, a 48-year-old Belgian, told me about his trip to Lviv last year: "Antoine, I was scared. My family tried to talk me out of it. But when I arrived in Lviv, I discovered a vibrant city, with open cafés, smiling people, and above all… Natalia waiting for me at the station with a bouquet of flowers. That's the day I understood that courage — it was hers, not mine."

To learn more, read our article: It's Not You Taking the Risks: The Courage of Ukrainian Women Facing Uprooting

  The simplest solution: Poland

Increasingly, we organize meetings in Poland. It has become the natural meeting point. Your future Ukrainian partner can easily cross the border (many Ukrainian women already live in Poland). You take a flight to Warsaw or Krakow. And you meet in a safe, comfortable, and romantic setting.

It's pragmatic. It's safe. And honestly, Krakow in winter is absolutely beautiful.

  Conclusion — What you really need to know in 2026

As I wrote in our article on the subtle difference between a Russian woman and a Ukrainian woman, on a human and cultural level, these women share an exceptional common foundation: loyalty as the bedrock of the couple, proudly traditional values, cultivated femininity, cooking that is an act of love, and above all — a sincere desire to build a home for life.

These are not women looking for a one-night stand. If that's what you're after, move along. These women want a husband, a father for their children, a life partner. And if you're not ready for that commitment, at least have the respect not to waste their time.

But in 2026, while the women may be similar, the administrative conditions for marrying them are no longer comparable at all. Here is the final summary table:

The conclusion is crystal clear: in 2026, for a serious Western man, marrying a Ukrainian woman is significantly more realistic and accessible than marrying a Russian woman. This is not a matter of preference — it's a geopolitical and administrative reality.

This doesn't mean that Russian women are no longer accessible. In Europe, it's still possible with determination and proper support. But you need to be realistic about the timelines, costs, and uncertainties involved.

And if our chess-loving viewer is reading this: yes, it is still possible to correspond by email with a Russian woman. Internet restrictions affect certain services, but personal communications remain possible. As for Russian women, they are still part of our offering — simply, the administrative conditions have become more demanding. But love doesn't know borders. It just knows detours.

And thank you for the kind words about my wife. She is indeed my secret weapon — and so much more. She is living proof that international unions can be wonderful when they're built on sincere foundations.

Because love has no borders. It just needs a good guide.

  Questions? Write to me directly: antoine@cqmi.ca

— Antoine Monnier, founder of the CQMI Agency —