Sen. Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council (the upper chamber of Russia’s bicameral Federal Assembly), said on April 15 that Russia is trying to maintain normal relations with the EU, but that things are approaching a “red line” which could require a drastic revision of those relations.
“I think that as long as it depends on our country, the issue of a breakup with the European Union will not be translated into practice. We are certainly interested in preserving these relations. For us, it is one of the biggest trade and economic partners, if not the biggest one. There is nothing insurmountable in our relations with the European Union,” the senator said on air with the Govorit Moskva (Moscow Speaking) radio station.
But Kosachev also warned about recent EU actions “which have very closely approached the red line.” One case he mentioned were the comments by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s remark after his visit to Kyiv with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, that there was only a military solution to the Ukraine crisis.
“We have a special military operation going on right now, that is true, but simultaneously a negotiating track is underway. Everyone knows it, including Mr. Borrell. It is sabotage of the negotiation process by the European Union.… He incites the Ukrainian authorities to persist in hostilities.… Should this continue, of course, a question may arise that we have to drastically reconsider our relations. It is no longer the European Union, but a NATO branch that implements the same harsh, aggressive and offensive policy toward our country,” Senator Kosachev, who is also on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, concluded.
