The Kremlin welcomes EU calls for dialogue with Moscow. This was stated by Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, quoted by TASS. “Putin – he stressed – supports the creation of a mechanism for dialogue and contacts between Brussels and Moscow”. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed for direct talks between the European Union and Moscow, while taking sides against the “provocations” of Russia. “In my opinion, as the European Union we must also seek direct contact with Russia and the Russian president,” Merkel told Parliament. “It is not enough for the American president to talk to the Russian president,” he said, stressing that the European Union “must also create different formats for talks”.
European stability requires “dialogue” with Russia, added the French president, Emmanuel Macron, upon his arrival at the EU summit underway in Brussels. France and Germany have proposed to restore the EU-Russia summits, amid the skepticism of several European states.
The Kremlin, as mentioned, seems to like it: the Russian foreign minister Lavrov has doubts. “Russia needs more information on the Franco-German proposal to invite the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to a summit with the European authorities,” said the minister. “We are not aware of any other details. What would the argument be? What would the summit agenda be? We don’t even know if the other EU member states agree ”.
Indeed, the Franco-German proposal divides the European countries. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was not opposed to the decision of the leaders of the joint institutions of the European Union to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding however that he will not take part in that meeting if it includes the national leaders of the 27. member states of the bloc.
Lithuania then warned the European Union against engaging in direct dialogue with the Russian president until Moscow changes its behavior. Gitanas Nauseda, arriving at a summit of the bloc’s 27 national leaders, expressed skepticism over the proposal from Paris and Berlin to consider holding an EU summit with Putin, after the new US President Joe Biden held his bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart. Nauseda said the idea is like “trying to involve the bear to keep a jar of honey safe.” “We should be extremely cautious, this is not like Russia’s relationship with the United States.”