LONDON, September 09. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union intends to cooperate with Russia for the political settlement of the conflict in the east of Ukraine, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso told BBC in an interview broadcast on Tuesday.

According to Barroso, a new Cold War in Europe meets nobody’s interests. He said the EU intended to cooperate with Russia to attain a political settlement of the conflict in the east of Ukraine. He said sanctions were not an end in itself for the EU, rather a means to continue the dialogue. He said a political settlement must be found with the full observance of Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity. 

Speaking about the conflict in the south-east of Ukraine, Barroso said that very intensive efforts were being exerted with the European governments for reaching a political agreement. It would be a mistake for Ukraine not to reach the agreement as it would entail consequences, he added. The same is true for Russia and its relations with the EU, he said.

Barroso was also asked about the threat posed to Europe by extremism in general and the Islamic Stare organization, acting in Iraq and Syria, in particular. Barroso said this was another reason for the settlement of the conflict with Russia.