Juncker urged not to link his visit to Russia with the lifting of sanctions – RBC

The head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker

Photo: Ye Pingfan / TASS

The head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said that his visit to the economic forum in St. Petersburg will not mean the abolition of emergency imposed against Russia sanctions

The head of the European Commission (EC) during his visit to Paris on May 31 said that his visit to the St. Petersburg international economic forum (SPIEF) will wear more economic than political nature, according to France 24, citing to AFP. He urged not to link his trip to Russia to the possible lifting of sanctions.

«My visit to St. Petersburg, which is more economic than political in nature, does not become an occasion for the European Union to declare any changes in our relationship with Russia, “- Juncker said

According to the EC, it will not change the” overall assessment of actions [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s European Union “

Juncker also expressed.. G7 support the position voiced last week at a summit in Japan. It lies in the fact that the lifting of sanctions depends on the implementation of the Minsk agreements. As the EC head, he repeatedly said Vladimir Putin that “sanctions will remain unchanged until they are met in Minsk agreement».

The fact that Jean-Claude Juncker, has accepted an invitation to visit the economic forum in St. Petersburg, May 30 announced the official representative of the European Commission. This information was confirmed by a spokesman for the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov. He also admitted meeting with Putin Juncker. The EC argued that Juncker use her visit to “convey to the Russian leadership, as well as to a wider audience the EU point of view on the current state of relations between Russia and the European Union».

SPIEF 2016 will be held from 16 to on 18 June. According to RBC’s source in the organizing committee of the forum, “political star” it will be Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Of the major businessmen confirmed their participation Alibaba founder Jack Ma, the head of Siemens Joe Kaeser, head of Total Puyang Patrick and others.

SPIEF will take place two weeks before the EU summit (28-29 June), which will address the question on the extension of sanctions against Russia for six months. According to Bloomberg, all 28 EU countries support the extension of sanctions against Russia.