The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that relations between Russia and the European Union will not normalize until the Minsk agreements are implemented. He named such a condition during a press conference following a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council in Brussels. TASS reports.
Borrell said the issue was discussed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his February 5 visit to Moscow. The head of EU diplomacy stressed that the European Union “protects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and calls for the implementation of the Minsk agreements.” Borrell called this a “clear condition” in relations between Russia and the EU.
On February 7, Borrell announced the distance of Russia from the European Union. He explained that he came to this conclusion after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and “a message from the Russian authorities during this visit.” In his opinion, Moscow does not want to use the opportunity for a more constructive dialogue. The Russian Foreign Ministry was surprised by this statement, noting that Borrell's assessment of the results of his visit to Moscow contrasts with his own words said in Russia.
The territorial conflict in Donbass has been going on for over six years. In April 2014, the Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation against the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, which proclaimed independence from Kiev after the change of power in the country. In 2015, the Minsk agreements were signed, which imply the granting of a special status to the region and the holding of local elections.
