Borrell continues to rely on dialogue with Russia after the affront – politics –

This is especially true “if the relationship is anything but satisfactory,” argued the former Spanish foreign minister. Russia expelled diplomats from Germany, Poland and Sweden from the country on Friday in an unprecedented affront during the visit of the foreign EU representative. The Russian Foreign Ministry said they were declared “undesirable persons” because they participated in “illegal protests” by the opposition against the arrest of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The move drew strong criticism within the EU. Germany summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry and announced a decisive reaction. The Austrian Foreign Minister announced on Twitter: “Russia’s decision to exclude several EU diplomats is further straining our relations. In difficult times, we need more, not less, diplomacy.”

Relations between Moscow and Brussels have been strained since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Tensions were exacerbated by the Navalny affair. President Vladimir Putin’s main adversary was sentenced Tuesday to nearly three years in a prison camp on the basis of a suspended sentence that had already been imposed. The EU demands Nawalny’s release and also criticized the police crackdown on his supporters.

Borrell announced that he would brief the EU foreign ministers on February 22 on his trip to Moscow. The future of Russia will be discussed at an EU summit in March.

During his visit to the Russian capital, Borrell said he was in contact with Nawalny’s lawyers. He also visited the place in Moscow where prominent opposition activist Boris Nemtsov was assassinated six years ago.