Media: The European Union will review its relations with Russia – Rosbalt.RU

 At the next meeting of foreign ministers of EU countries will be non-standard discussion – will be discussed exclusively on bilateral relations between the EU and Russia. Ministers will try to come to develop a new long-term strategy of relations with Moscow, writes «Kommersant».

 

 “Against the background of the events of the last two years in the European capitals have come to the conclusion that in any case return to the relations with Russia in the spirit of business as usual can not be. Now we really have no common vision of relations with Russia, there are only sanctions, but can not last forever. We need a new normal – a long-term strategy of cooperation with Russia in the new conditions “, – said the source publications in the EU structures

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 According to him, it is the elaboration of March 14 will be engaged in Brussels. Another source in the EU institutions explained that the outcome of these negotiations is not expected any concrete solutions.

 

 “It will be a kind of brainstorming, the results of which can result in something concrete on these consultations”, – he said, noting that in contrast to only a similar meeting held in January 2015, no pre-prepared proposals from the European Commission is not.

 

 Since no pre-prepared proposals, the head of European foreign ministers will have an opportunity to speak on the topic “What does the EU on relations with Russia».

 

 According to the Russian diplomatic source in the Russian Foreign Ministry also intends in the near future “to carry out an inventory of” relations with the EU. “The current stage of relations, we also are not satisfied,” – he explained

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 Russian diplomatic source warned that (restrictive measures introduced will remain for a long time because of the Crimea) go to whatever was the “new normality” will not work without removing from the main part of the Russian sanctions.

 

 The diplomat representing in Moscow, one of the key EU countries, noted that the main obstacle to “meaningful discussions” about a possible softening of the EU sanctions against Russia at present is “the lack of progress in implementing even the first, it would seem the easiest points of the Minsk agreements “: a cease-fire in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine and the removal of heavy weapons

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 According to the interlocutor, “Kommersant”, “cease-fire largely observed by the fault of Donetsk and Lugansk armed groups”, which is why Europe’s leaders questioned the “sincerity of Moscow promises to influence the management of the self-proclaimed republics».

 

 Earlier it was reported that Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergey Prikhodko said that Russia does not intend to ask the European Union to lift the sanctions.