Russian Diplomat Says Europe Will Be Forced to Rethink Its Russia Policy
A senior Russian diplomat has emphasized that the current tensions between Moscow and the European Union will not last, and Europe will ultimately be compelled to reconsider its approach towards Russia.
Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the European Affairs Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Izvestia newspaper that relations between Russia and the EU would not remain strained forever, as the leadership composition in the European Commission could change in the future.
Referring to the fixed term structure of the European Commission, he added that this institution is appointed for a specific period, and the current commission will be replaced after its mandate ends; a change that could alter the course of dialogue between Moscow and Brussels.
The Russian official also expressed hope that the European Union would eventually understand that sanctions policy harms the EU itself the most. According to him, Europe is inevitably forced to accept the reality that Russia, as a permanent neighbor, will remain a constant part of the continent’s political and geographical equation.
