Zakharova Names Conditions for Europe’s Negotiator
Maria Zakharova says Europe’s negotiator with Russia must have public trust, avoid Russophobia and contribute constructively to talks.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Europe’s negotiator for dialogue with Russia must enjoy the trust of their own people and be capable of making a constructive contribution to the process.
According to Zakharova, such representatives must have public support in their own countries and must not descend into open nationalism, including Russophobia. She stressed that the negotiation process requires people who can work substantively rather than destroy dialogue with political statements.
Earlier, Vladimir Putin, answering a question about a possible counterpart in talks between Russia and Europe, said that for him personally, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could be a preferable figure. At the same time, the Russian president noted that Europeans should choose for themselves a leader whom they trust and who has not made offensive statements about Russia.
Putin also stressed that it was Europe, not Russia, that refused negotiations.