The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, is visiting Moscow on February 4, 2021. -
John Thys / AP / SIPA
Despite the end of refusal of requests for the release of Alexey Navalny, the European Union has chosen to maintain its mission in Russia.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, is therefore going to Moscow this Thursday to probe the Kremlin's willingness to cooperate.
The Spaniard knows that he will have a difficult game against Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2004. Moscow indeed refuses any interference in its internal affairs and has warned the Europeans against the "stupidity" of conditioning the future of their relationship with Russia to the fate of the opponent.
Pessimistic borrell
Josep Borrell is also not under any illusions.
"I will probably not obtain the release of Alexeï Navalny", he confided on Monday.
“Borrell won't get anything, that's for sure.
Putin will never show his weakness ”, for his part explained Alexeï Malachenko, of the Research Institute Dialogue between Civilizations.
But the political scientist does not exclude signals.
The mandate of the European envoy was finalized on Wednesday, as reservations were expressed by several member states and the European Parliament on the advisability of his trip.
He leaves “bearer of demands with regard to the Russian authorities.
On his return, the Europeans will consider the consequences to be drawn from this visit, ”French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian explained on Wednesday.
"New sanctions are not excluded", for its part warned Germany.
Russia has been under economic sanctions since 2014, after the annexation of Crimea.
Josep Borrell will arrive in Moscow on Thursday evening for a two-day visit, until February 6.
He has asked to see Navalny and he wants to meet with representatives of civil society.
Foreign ministers will have a first discussion on February 22 on the results of his mission.
They will have to draw conclusions and options to present to European leaders who will meet at the end of February, before their summit devoted to the relationship with Russia at the end of March.
The mission entrusted to Josep Borrell also puts an end to a freeze of diplomatic contacts at European level since 2017. He wanted to make this trip.
“The relationship with Russia is complex.
There are many security issues to discuss ”, he pleads.
Ukraine, the Caucasus, Syria, Libya, Africa are all subjects of dispute with Moscow, underline his services.
“But there are also areas in which the EU and Russia are cooperating, or should cooperate more,” such as the fight against global warming and the Iran nuclear deal.
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