Britain is to urge Germany to back EU sanctions stripping Russian diplomats of their freedom of movement within the bloc, The Telegraph can reveal.

Moscow has often deployed spies in Europe under the guise of diplomatic postings. British officials fear their frictionless travel across the region makes it easier for them to conduct secret operations against the UK and the wider West.

As things stand, Russian envoys in EU countries benefit from Schengen visas allowing them and their families to travel through the 29 countries in its passport-free zone.

Germany is the most influential member state opposed to a Czech proposal to remove the visas from Vladimir Putin’s diplomats and force them to stay in the host country of their embassy.

The Czech plan is supported by eight other EU nations, including the Netherlands, Poland and Baltic countries.

France is now believed to have also swung around in favour of the idea. However, EU sanctions require unanimity among all 27 member states.

Jan Lipavsky, the foreign minister of the Czech Republic, told The Telegraph: “I have proposed a sanction that Russian diplomats would not be able to use Schengen visa[s] in Europe.

“If you are accepted in Czechia, you can automatically travel with freedom to Malta, to Sweden, anywhere. Russia cannot offer European diplomats anything comparable to the visa.

“But that sanction is not moving in the EU at the moment.” Mr Lipavsky refused to name which countries were blocking the proposal.