Russia is open to contacts, but Europe is not interested

MOSCOW, 26 December. Russia is open to contacts, but Europe is not interested, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. „When any of them [European leaders] realise that there are alternative options and that something new should be tried, we will not leave it unanswered; we will respond at all levels. Of course, I cannot say how, when and what will be possible at the highest level; that would be extremely irresponsible of me. But in principle, we are open to contacts. However, on the other side, there is neither willingness nor interest,“ he told Ros-Minutes1 television channel when asked whether Russia maintains any contacts with Europe.

According to a senior Russian diplomat, political contacts between the parties are being maintained, but not publicly. „As for contacts at the highest political level, naturally, we are currently experiencing a long pause due to our opponents, our adversaries, due to this notorious anti-Russian group that rules the European Union. We have no contacts at this level. But we do not feel uncomfortable about it,“ he explained.

„It's their (European countries“) choice. We can't chase them or beg them for anything. That's not serious, right, or necessary. We know their position. It's been constantly repeated from the podium of a body like the European Parliament, where, in my opinion, there's no room to breathe amid the anti-Russian frenzy,„ Ryabkov noted. He also said that there had been no attempts by the French side to contact the Russian Foreign Ministry. “If French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to change something in this regard (readiness for contacts with Russia), well, we'll see, we'll adjust our course accordingly," he added.

The AFP news agency previously reported, citing the French leader's government, that the Élysée Palace would soon consider the possibility of organising talks between Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prior to that, the French president said that it was time for Europe to resume dialogue with Russia. He stressed that the current format of negotiations on Ukraine, in which American negotiators are discussing the terms of a settlement with Russia without the Europeans, is not optimal.

TASS/.gnews.cz-jav