President Barroso spoke with
Russian President Putin today. In a very frank exchange of views, the
President of the Commission expressed his deep concern with the current
events and the situation on the ground in Ukraine. These are in complete
contradiction with the efforts made by the European Union to bring
about diplomatic and pragmatic solutions to issues such as the
implementation of the AA/DCFTA (Association Agreement/Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement) and energy relations between Russia
and Ukraine.
The President of the Commission
conveyed to President Putin his firm condemnation of the evidence of
significant incursions into and operations on Ukrainian soil by Russian
military units.
President Barroso urged
President Putin to revert the current path, stressing that it is
difficult to continue to argue for engagement when confronted with the
recurrent escalation of the conflict.
The EU has already made clear that further destabilisation of Ukraine and the region will carry high costs.
