Jeanne Manukyan. Punishment of the EU towards Russia, introduced because of the situation in Ukraine, inefficient, EU seek to find fresh avenues of dialogue with Russia And to take punishment to make a real opportunity to improve bilateral relations, said Last news Former French Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin.

in connection with the situation in Ukraine, EU countries, USA And Canada in the spring of the past year have introduced against Russia 1st batch of sentences, then it was expanded. In the last month of summer 2014, Russia imposed retaliatory measures that have spread to the products of the agricultural sector from the EU, USA, Canada And some other countries that have joined the anti-Russian sanctions policy.


review Villepin, the EU And Russia are currently at "inflection point" And the EU ought to reconsider their own approach to relations with Russia.

"We have seen in the past as punishment had the desired effect. And We can observe that punishment is not only ineffective, but at times exacerbated the situation. I think that is now very important to try to renegotiate our relationship with Russia. Punishment is not conducive to the stability And economic development neither Europe, nor Russia. I think that the EU already has the experience And the EU is currently responsible for having to try to find a fresh way of dialogue with Russia, "said De Villepin in a conversation Last news on the sidelines of the international conference" the development of Central Eurasia: the Economic belt of the silk road ", which takes place on the last working day of the week in Astana.

review of ex-Prime Minister of France, at the moment the EU And Russia have " a real opportunity to improve the situation in Ukraine." De Villepin said that "the good work of the Minsk group" a demonstration of how the parties have the opportunity to work with each other.

"And, of course, the conclusion about the lifting of sanctions has to be taken to give back to our such different countries real prospects for the future ", - noted De Villepin. According to his statement, these features are necessary " for political, economic And social considerations ".


Former Prime Minister was confident that the dialogue between Europeans And Russians - a key component of the dialogue between the EU And Russia.

"We have a lot in common And many differences. We must work together And not to leave opportunities for understanding between our peoples. I think quite a lot of Europeans who expect more from Russia, just as in Russia they expect more from Europe. For this reason, I am absolutely convinced that We must reach a new level of mutual understanding, mutual projects, " said De Villepin.

The former head of the French government is confident that the number of such new formats of cooperation may be the realization of Economic belt silk road, an idea that is " absolutely positive ".

"The economic belt of the silk road - a very positive project, which implies the involvement of all parties. This is an attempt to work together on stability And development.

"for this reason, I think, because It's bound to be a target for the Russian Federation And the EU," De Villepin.


Western countries since March 2014 several times already imposed penalties because Russia's position on Ukraine. The last case of the use of such practices were the limits imposed in March 2015, when expanded sanctions List of the USA.

The list of Russian citizens And organizations who have fallen under the punishment - in the material of the Fins news

sections: Politics