Commission chief Juncker: EU must improve Russia ties
The EU must restore a "practical relationship" with Russia and not let the US "dictate" that policy, BBC cited the European Commission chief as saying. Jean-Claude Juncker criticised US President Barack Obama's description of Russia as merely "a regional power". EU-US sanctions were imposed on Russia because of its intervention in Ukraine. Mr Obama had a frosty meeting recently with Russian President Vladimir Putin. EU-US sanctions were imposed on Russia because of its intervention in Ukraine. Mr Obama had a frosty meeting recently with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Russia must be treated decently," Mr Juncker said in Germany. "We must make efforts towards a practical relationship with Russia. It is not sexy but that must be the case, we can't go on like this," he said, during a visit to Passau in southern Germany. Last year the West imposed visa bans and asset freezes on dozens of senior Russian officials. The sanctions also restricted Russian access to Western bank credits and industrial technology in the defence and energy sectors. In retaliation, Russia banned most imports of Western food and drink. The head of the Duma Committee for International Affairs Alexei Pushkov wrote on his page in Twitter that Juncker's announcement opens way for cancellation of sanctions against Russia. “It will not be an easy process, the anti-Russian wing of Europe will oppose it," he tweeted. In March, Juncker proposed to create a European army to face up to Russia and other threats, restore the bloc's standing around the world and show that the EU is serious about protecting its values.
