the Russian ambassador summoned by the European institutions

Europe does not want to let it go without saying anything. The Russian ambassador to the European Union was summoned on Monday, May 3, by the European institutions after Moscow’s decision to sanction eight European officials, the European Commission announced.

“We will send him a firm condemnation and a rejection of this decision”, said the spokesperson for Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy.

Russia on Friday banned eight European officials from entering its territory, including European Parliament President David Sassoli, Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova, Berlin Prosecutor Jörg Raupach, and MP French Jacques Maire, who is the special rapporteur on the poisoning of the opponent Alexeï Navalny, at the Parliamentary Assembly at the Council of Europe.

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“Russia has chosen the path of confrontation”

The European Union condemned this decision, announced the day after the adoption by the European Parliament of a resolution denouncing Russia’s actions and calling for economic and political sanctions. “The EU reserves the right to take appropriate measures in response to the decision of the Russian authorities”, warned the presidents of the three institutions of the European Union on Friday.

“The Russian Federation has chosen the path of confrontation instead of seeking to reverse the negative trajectory of EU-Russia relations”, deplored the member states on Saturday in a statement issued on their behalf by Josep Borrell. “Discussions are underway between member states for a united response”, said his spokesperson.

The EU’s reaction will be discussed by foreign ministers and will be on the agenda for the European summit on May 25, said a European diplomat.

The World with AFP