Copyright © 2024 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

EU lacks consensus to stop recognizing Putin as Russian “president”

The European Union has clarified its stance on recognizing Vladimir Putin as the president of Russia.
Putin wants to freeze war in Ukraine, claims NYT. Should we believe it?
Vladimir Putin before the negotiations of leaders of states in Normandy format in Berlin, 19 October, 2016. Photo: Depositphotos
EU lacks consensus to stop recognizing Putin as Russian “president”

The European Union reported that it did not reach a consensus among its 27 member states to stop recognizing Vladimir Putin as the “president” of Russia.

According to European Pravda, Peter Stano, spokesperson for the EU’s External Action Service said that the EU as such does not have the power to recognize or not recognize someone’s authority.”

“Traditionally, it is up to the member states to make such a decision,” Stano said.

On 7 May Russia held an inauguration ceremony for Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claimed that it is an attempt to create an illusion of legitimacy for Putin’s nearly lifelong hold on power.

Russia held a “presidential election” on 15-17 March in which incumbent President Vladimir Putin predictably secured his fifth term.

Fraud, coercion, 90%+ for Putin: how Russia staged a sham election in occupied Ukraine

The EU representative said that if all 27 member countries unanimously said that they did not recognize the legitimacy of a country’s representative, as they had done in the case of Syria’s leader Assad, or the dictator in Belarus Lukashenko, then the EU could take that position.

He assured that there is no EU-wide position agreed by the 27 countries stating that the EU does not see Putin as the legitimate representative of Russia.

“The fact is that he sits in the Kremlin, and from the Kremlin, he is leading the most violent and brutal aggression in modern European history, the aggression against Ukraine,” Stano said.

The EU spokesperson noted that the bloc had expressed a consensus position on the so-called “presidential elections” in Russia in a statement on 18 March, agreed upon by all 27 member states.

The EU criticized the Russian “elections” as being held with numerous restrictions, without the participation of real opposition, and conducted in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

Stano assured that this EU position does not affect on the EU’s position of supporting Ukraine.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!

    Related Posts