The Kremlin defended Monday, February 8 its decision to expel European diplomats, while ensuring that it wants to "
develop
" its relations with the EU, whose crisis has deepened with the poisoning and then the imprisonment of the opponent Alexeï Navalny.
Read also: Navalny affair: the ambivalent EU after the snub inflicted on Josep Borrell in Russia
The expulsions announced Friday were seen as a snub in Europe, they came on the day of a visit to Moscow by the head of European diplomacy.
"
Russia was and remains interested in relaunching relations between Moscow and Brussels,
" Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
But “
the expulsion of diplomats (...) is the consequence of actions undertaken by certain foreign missions in Moscow, in a context of illegal disturbances.
Russia has clearly demonstrated that it does not intend to tolerate this,
”he added.
Russia accused these German, Polish and Swedish representatives of having participated in an illegal demonstration in support of Alexeï Navalny to justify their expulsion from Russia.
Peskov promised to "
act very decisively
" in case of "
interference
".
"
But that does not mean that we want to move away and further worsen relations (...) on the contrary, we have an interest in their development
", he said.
Back from Russia, Josep Borrell said on Sunday that he was very worried about the refusal of the Russian authorities to engage in a "more constructive" dialogue with the EU, calling on European leaders to "
draw the consequences
", which could include a new wave of sanctions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday it was "
surprised
" by Borrell's statements.
The latter was indeed more conciliatory in Moscow, but that was before Russia announced the expulsion of European diplomats.
The EU has repeatedly called for the release of the opponent Alexei Navalny, imprisoned since January 17.
She also accuses Moscow of refusing to investigate the poisoning of which this opponent of the Kremlin was the victim, and in return adopted sanctions against senior Russian officials.
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