All news

Senator blasts Tusk’s remarks at EU summit as Russophobic fearmongering

A Russian MP says the EU is trying to assume exclusive rights in security and defense policy in Europe failing to recognize the interests of the non-associated European countries
EU President, Donald Tusk EPA/PETER FOLEY
EU President, Donald Tusk
© EPA/PETER FOLEY

MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Chairman of Russia’s Federation Council (upper house of parliament) International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev described comments by EU President, Donald Tusk, about supposed threats coming from Moscow as Russophobic scaremongering.

"Tusk said after the first day of the EU summit in Brussels that Russia’s strategy is to weaken the EU," the senator wrote on his Facebook page. "This statement is on his conscience, and it is traditional anti-Russian hysteria like ‘the Russians are coming!’ I just hope no one will jump out of the window."

According to Kosachev, the EU is trying to assume exclusive rights in security and defense policy in Europe failing to recognize the interests of the non-associated European countries. Meanwhile, the task of responsible politicians is to acknowledge this equality of the parties and tackle the issue of their differently directed activities.

"This is both the intellectual and moral challenge that EU senior officials have been unable to cope with so far," the senator noted.

Tusk earlier asserted at the EU summit that Russia’s strategy is to waken the European Union. He added that the EU is always ready to engage in dialogue with Russia but will never compromise on its values or principles. The EU president also informed that its leaders discussed the situation in Syria and strongly condemned "the attacks by the Syrian regime and its allies, notably Russia, on civilians in Aleppo." However, he made no mention of the possibility of imposing sanctions against Russia over Syria.