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European Commission demands that Russia start dialogue with Ukraine immediately

EC threatens Russia with further sanctions

Jose Manuel Barroso EPA/PATRICK SEEGER

Jose Manuel Barroso

© EPA/PATRICK SEEGER

STRASBOURG, March 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia and Ukraine should immediately come to the negotiating table, and the EU is ready to help. President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso stated this on Wednesday delivering a speech at the European Parliament session.

“The ball is currently in Russia's court and, as we speak, the diplomatic, political and military situation is not yet moving in the right direction,” he stated. “Our dialogue on visa facilitation and liberalization (with Russia), the discussions on the New Agreement and the preparations for the G8 meeting in Sochi have already been suspended. If meaningful negotiations do not begin within the next few days and produce results within a limited timeframe, this will trigger additional measures. And a further deterioration of the situation could lead to far reaching consequences, which I sincerely hope can be avoided.”

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