All news

Deadlock in Russia-EU relations harmful for economy, ambassador says

In 2014, the EU imposed sanctions on Moscow over developments in Ukraine and Crimea’s reunification with Russia

VIENNA, August 3. /TASS/. Relations between Russia and the European Union have reached an impasse, there seems to be no way out of it, Russian Ambassador to Austria Dmitry Lyubinsky said in an interview with the Vorarlberger Nachrichten newspaper.

"We (Russia and the EU — TASS) have reached a deep impasse, and there seems to be no way out of it. This harms everyone, including the economy," he said. In his view, the European Union and Russia do not need mediators to resolve the crisis, but "openness is needed for dialogue."

"Sanctions do not help anyone in principle. Relations with the EU are at their lowest point, it could not be worse. We have been asked for several years now why Russia conducts negotiations with individual European countries despite the fact that there is Brussels and the EU. The problem is that there is no dialogue on the most important issues, because the EU is not ready to talk about common challenges," the ambassador stressed.

In 2014, the EU imposed sanctions on Moscow over developments in Ukraine and Crimea’s reunification with Russia. They have been expanded and extended on numerous occasions. Negotiations on visa-free travel and a new framework agreement on cooperation were suspended, a ban was imposed on entry to EU countries for officials from Russia, and their assets were frozen. Trade, financial and military restrictions were announced as well. In response, Russia imposed a ban on the imports of some foods from the European Union.