Federica Mogherini: EU will never recognise annexation of Crimea

Brussels will never recognise changes of state borders by force.

It was said by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Evropeiska Pravda reports.

“You do not change borders by force. Not in this continent, not in this century, not in this millennium. We will never accept something like that,” Mogherati noted at a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg during a debate on Ukraine.

She also calls to keep current sanctions against Russia if there are not changes in the situation in Ukraine.

“The sanctions are based on the situation on the ground and the evaluation of that is going be taking stock of the situation on the ground – negative or positive developments or no developments,” the EU foreign policy chief stressed.

Mogherini stands for a further political dialogue with Moscow.

“This does not mean that we don't have to talk. […] The Ukrainians and the Russians are talking to each other. And we need to support this dialogue ourselves,” she said.

She noted the EU could take a hard stance at negotiations.

“This is does not mean being soft. But even for being hard, you need to talk,” Mogherini added.

Elmar Brok, the chairman of the EP's Committee on Foreign Policy, said during the debate that the EU must not discuss even a possibility of lifting sanctions from Russia.

The Wall Street Journal earlier wrote that the EU had prepared a document proposing to discuss the ways of normalisation of relations with Russia. According to the document, The EU could significantly scale back sanctions and resume discussions with Russia if Russian president Vladimir Putin moves to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine.

Photo: Reuters