Kremlin sees poor prospects for relations between Moscow and the EU
The Kremlin sees bad prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels following the EU leaders' decision on the new leadership of the European Union. The designated new EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has not distinguished herself through diplomatic skill so far, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, according to reports from Russian news agencies on Friday. The Estonian prime minister is "well known to us for her absolutely unacceptable and sometimes even extremist anti-Russian statements," Peskow added. Moscow accuses the West of Russophobia, or hatred towards Russians, time and again.
Similarly, Peskov commented on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was nominated for a second term by the EU leaders with a large majority. "The prospects of the relationship between Moscow and Brussels are bad," Peskov said. There is no normalization of relations to be expected.
Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, the relationship between Moscow and Brussels has been largely ruined, among other things due to the 14 EU sanction packages against Moscow.
The Kremlin has expressed concerns about the ratio of positivity in the perspectives of Moscow-EU relations, given the EU leaders' decision for a new EU foreign policy chief who has been criticized for her statements towards Russia. Moreover, the Kremlin has not approved of the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's new appointment, expressing similar reservations about the future of Moscow-EU relations. The Kremlin's displeasure stems from the ongoing tensions, including the 14 EU sanction packages imposed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
