Putin: "Reconciliation with Europe is not ruled out"

Ask AI · Why does Putin see the 2014 Ukraine events as a turning point in Russia-Europe relations?

Reference News Network March 28 report According to a report by Deutsche Welle on March 27, Russian President Putin said Russia does not rule out the possibility of achieving reconciliation with European countries.

According to a text transcript released by the Kremlin, Putin said on the 27th at a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation: “We have never refused to develop these relations, and we have never refused to restore these relations.”

Putin has repeatedly cited the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovych, in 2014, as a cause of the rupture in bilateral relations. Putin mentioned a coup backed by the United States and several European countries. He said this marked the beginning of “a series of tragic events that are still unfolding in Ukraine to this day.”

In 2022, the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out. Four years on, the conflict remains stuck in a military stalemate. However, Moscow still insists on its goals and, to date, has refused any participation by any party in Europe in the peace process for resolving the conflict.

Putin said the Security Council of the Russian Federation should discuss the state of relations with European countries, especially the European Union.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made an assessment of the above relations at the meeting, but the Kremlin did not cite the contents of his remarks. (Compiled / Lin Chaohui)