High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell believes that there are many disagreements in the relations of Europe and Russia, including the position toward the situation in Ukraine as Interfax reported.
“Our relations have been deteriorating during the past ten years, particularly, after the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia in 2014 and it is characterized by lack of confidence. Today, in fact, we perceive each other as rivals and competitors, not as partners. We have significant disagreements concerning the conflicts directly at our borders – from Ukraine and Belarus to Libya and Syria, and concerning the rights and freedoms of a human,” Borrell noted.
According to him, Brussels has clearly defined its position toward the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, his arrest and sentence to imprisonment, as well as the issue of detention of thousands of protesters during the past days.
Nevertheless, the European diplomat underlined that the communication channels of the European Union and Russia remain and should be open.
“The refusal from the negative rhetoric would a good beginning of an honest and direct exchange of opinions between the EU and Russia that becomes increasingly necessary when the relations are far from satisfactory,” he added.
As we reported, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell coordinated their positions before the EU official's visit to Russia.
