A European Union foreign policy spokesman said the move ended in “confrontation”
Brussels has demonstrated its readiness to engage with Moscow, including sending European diplomacy chief Josep Borrel to Russia, but the sides have not reached an agreement. An EU foreign policy spokesman told on Wednesday, commenting on talks the day before between Russian President Vladimir Putin, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Putin said during his conversation with the French and German leaders that Russia was ready to re-engage with the EU if there was a reciprocal interest in doing so.
“The EU has quite clearly demonstrated its readiness to engage with Russia, including through the visit of diplomatic chief Borrell”, – he said, but noted that the move ended in “confrontation”.
Furthermore, according to the spokesperson, “the EU also made it clear what steps Russia should take in order for our relations to take a different direction” during the last conversation between European Council President Charles Michel and Putin on 22 March. The interlocutors discussed, among other things, international problems and the possible use of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in the EU at the time.