Grzegorz Schetyna: EU won’t change its policy towards Russia

The discussion on the European Union policy towards Russia lasted in Brussels for almost 4 hours.

The Polish top diplomat told about that in his interview to gazeta.pl, summing up the results of yesterday’s meeting of EU ministers of foreign affairs. The politician called it “fiercer than ever.”

The debate of the ministers on relations with Russia lasted for almost 4 hours. It was to become an introduction to the meeting of the EU leaders scheduled in May, which was to be dedicated to the relations with Russia and the sanctions.

- We agreed it’s just a beginning of the discussion. Besides, we have come to a conclusion that the European Union would not change its policy towards Russia. It’s the most important thing, as there are some voices saying that this policy should be corrected, - the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs said at the press-conference.

According to the minister, there is no doubt that sanctions against Russia, imposed in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, should be continued.

- No one is saying that the sanctions should be eased or lifted. There have been no such statements, - the minister stressed. He added that the mildest phrase during the discussion was the opinion that the EU policy towards Russia could not be founded on sanctions only.

- The air of the debate was fiercer than before. It seems to me that such things would not have happened if not for the signals of liberalization of the line in relations with Russia, - Schetyna said. According to his estimation, the discussion on possibility of a new start in the relations with Russia should not be opened too early.

As Schetyna informed, “there is no new format of talks with Russia.” After the attempt to organize a meeting in Astana on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, with participation of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, “there are no plans about any other meetings in this format,” the minister added.

Photo: Sławomir Kamiński/AG