Tuesday, March 11, 2014, 16:01
According to the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation, Moscow is surprised that the situation in Crimea caused such reaction on the part of the European Union during the extraordinary meeting of the European Council.
“It’s hard to get rid of the impression that a conjunctural approach prevailed over common sense, which dictates the need to listen at least principle of strategic partnership between the EU and Russia”, the ministry announced in a statement. Russia scolds the EU, declaring that in “this delicate moment” of finding a solution to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, the EU “took a very unconstructive position by refusing to cooperate with Russia.”
Moscow is referring to visa liberalization and the signing of a new framework agreement. Moscow assured readers that if the EU thinks that, “Russia needs the completion of this work more than the EU, they are mistaken…Russia does not accept the language of sanctions and threats, but if they are implemented, they will not go unanswered”, stated the Russian Foreign Ministry.
On Thursday, the European Council members decided that the EU would stop working with Russia on visa liberalization and the signing of a new framework agreement. The EU also pledged to freeze the assets of Russian officials and cancel visas if Russia does not quit its aggressive policy towards Ukraine.
The original text is on Ukrainska Pravda at: http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/7/7018099/
