Russia: Dialogue with EU at a Standstill Under Current Commission

Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the European Affairs Department at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that dialogue between Russia and the European Union has effectively ceased during the term of the current European Commission.

​The Russian diplomat emphasized that this does not mean communication is lost forever. 

He noted that the current European Commission has an "expiration date," after which a new commission will be elected.

In an interview with the Izvestia newspaper, Maslennikov added: "I do not believe that the dialogue between Russia and the EU has ended for good. The European Commission always has a specific mandate for which it is elected. The current commission has its own 'expiry date,' and a new body will be formed thereafter."

​In a related context, Russian Foreign Minister (FM) Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow harbors no doubts that the primary goal of certain major European capitals, such as Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and London, is to maintain the current regime in Kyiv.