Russia and Europe pledge dialogue despite sanctions

(Baonghean.vn) - Russia and the European Union (EU) need to continue dialogue despite sanctions, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum taking place in Russia.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker visits Russia despite many criticisms. Photo:Tass

According to Mr. Juncker, the dialogue between the two sides must begin with discussing the Minsk agreements, ensuring compliance with the standards and principles of international law. “We have no illusions about the problems that are negatively affecting our relations. They really exist. Ignoring them is useless and even dangerous. We need to address them quickly.”

On the issue of Ukraine, Mr. Juncker said that the country needs to make its own decisions, taking into account its relations with other countries - including Russia and the EU. Ukraine's choice should be respected, and Ukraine's stability would also benefit the Russian economy.

Mr. Juncker also explained his decision to come to Russia to attend this forum. Although he knew that many people did not support this decision, Mr. Juncker said that it was natural to continue dialogue with Russia despite the current tensions. He hoped to have a "frank" discussion with the host country's President Vladimir Putin on many areas.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia never intended to confront the West and always wanted an equal, mutually beneficial dialogue. “We are reviewing our relations with the EU and are working on a comprehensive set of documents. We will hand them over to the European side so that we can jointly assess the situation,” Lavrov said.

Diep Khanh

(According to RT)