The summons of Russian Ambassador Alexei Meshkov to the French Foreign Ministry in connection with Moscow's sanctions against European officials is part of the demarche agreed upon by the EU countries.

This opinion was expressed at the Russian embassy in Paris.

Earlier, the French Foreign Ministry reported that the Russian ambassador in Paris was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in connection with the introduction of counter-sanctions by Russia against EU representatives.

Along with this, French diplomats noted that they expressed concern to the Ambassador about the recent adoption by Russia of decisions limiting the recruitment of employees in diplomatic missions in the field.

The Russian embassy commented on the actions of the French Foreign Ministry, calling them "part of an agreed demarche."

“The summons of the Russian ambassador to France to the country's Foreign Ministry is, in our opinion, part of the demarche agreed upon by the EU countries and in many respects repeats what was announced to the Russian representative to the EU,” RIA Novosti reports.

It is noted that the Russian diplomat gave clarifications on this issue, noting that the retaliatory measures were dictated by the EU decisions to close the entry of a number of Russian officials.

During a conversation at the French Foreign Ministry, Meshkov also stressed that Brussels had repeatedly ignored Moscow's calls to abandon the sanctions lists.

The diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation added that "anti-Russian hysteria ... by no means contributes to rectifying the already difficult situation in relations between Russia and the European Union."

  • Alexey Meshkov

  • © mid.ru

Speaking about restrictions on the hiring of employees in diplomatic missions on the ground, the Russian embassy stressed that such measures are being taken in response to the unfriendly actions of the respective states.

"It is up to them to pursue or not to pursue a line that is unfriendly towards Russia," the Russian diplomats concluded.

Recall that at the end of April, Russia, in response to the EU sanctions, published a list of officials from the EU countries and structures of the Union banned from entering the country.

The list includes eight people.

Among them are Ivars Abolins, Chairman of the Latvian National Council for Electronic Media, Maris Baltins, Director of the Latvian State Language Center, Jacques Maire, member of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Jörg Raupach, Head of the Berlin Prosecutor's Office, and David Maria Sassoli, President of the European Parliament.

In addition, the list also includes the head of the Laboratory of Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Safety of the Research Institute for Total Defense of Sweden Osa Scott, the head of the Estonian language department Ilmar Tomusk and the deputy chairman of the European Commission for values ​​and transparency Vera Yurova.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the list was prepared in response to the restrictive measures introduced by the EU on March 2 and 22 against six citizens of the Russian Federation.

Russian diplomats noted that all attempts to resolve problematic issues between Moscow and Brussels are ignored or rejected by the European side.

The ministry also stressed that the European Union continues the policy of illegitimate unilateral sanctions against Russia, which is contrary to the UN Charter.

“Such actions of the European Union leave no doubt that their true goal is to restrain the development of our country at any cost.

To impose their one-sided concept of a "rules-based world order" that undermines international law.

Throw an overt challenge to the independence of Russian foreign and domestic policy.

This is done openly and deliberately, ”the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Subsequently, the EU expressed dissatisfaction with the measures taken by the Russian side.

In a joint statement by the head of the European Council Charles Michel, the presidents of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the European Parliament David Sassoli, it was said that Moscow's decision allegedly demonstrates Russia's choice in favor of "confrontation" with the European Union instead of seeking to fix bilateral relations.

Later, Russia's Permanent Representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, held a meeting with EU representatives and gave explanations about Moscow's retaliatory sanctions measures against eight European citizens.

“The importance of diplomatic efforts to rectify the current unhealthy situation in the dialogue between Moscow and Brussels was noted.

The Russian side reaffirmed its readiness for this work, ”the diplomatic mission said.