Poland Warns EU Countries against Rapprochement with Russia

Poland is worried that some European Union countries are becoming more friendly with Russia, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz told Reuters in an interview. “It seems that some European leaders are unaware that their activities are read as an attempt to warm up relations, and if they are, their politics are misguided,” he said. Warming relations with Russia could signal to the Kremlin that Europe will let it get away with escalations, such as the annexation of Crimea, over time, setting a dangerous precedent, said Przydacz. “There is no reason to invite Russian leaders to different parties or dances together...measures were put in place to encourage Russia to move away from its aggressive politics to the east of Europe...and it hasn’t even taken half a step back,” the politician added. Earlier, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced that EU sanctions against Russia are a temporary stage, and they can be lifted at any time. He added that Russia “announced a grand development plan until 2024”, which covers 12 national projects, and France would like to offer its interaction outside the areas of partnership that already exist. On June 20, the European Union extended economic sanctions for six more months against Russia due to events in Ukraine. EU members unanimously agreed that Russia was not sufficiently implementing the Minsk agreements. Sanctions imposed for the annexation of Crimea were extended the same day for a year. The restrictions relate to the import of products from the peninsula, investment in the Crimea, its tourism sector, as well as the export of products and technologies to the region. Crimea became part of Russia according to the results of the referendum held in March 2014. Ukraine, the U.S.A, European Union and other countries do not recognize its results and consider the peninsula to be a part of Russia as an occupation. Moscow insists that the process of the annexation of Crimea meets international law. Lenta.ru