Russia strongly responds to the EU on the diplomatic front

“18 employees of the EU Delegation in Moscow will have to leave the territory Russia as soon as possible” – RT Radio quoted the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry on April 15, stressing and seeing this as a response to the “unfriendly actions of the EU”.

Before making the above statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry also summoned EU Delegation Chief Markus Ederer in Moscow to “strongly protest” about the “unprovoked” expulsion of 19 Russian diplomats on April 5. .

Mr. Ederer was also informed by the Russian Foreign Ministry that “the EU is responsible for destroying the consistent architecture of bilateral dialogue and cooperation, which has taken decades to form” and pointed out the need. The EU must strictly adhere to the requirements of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

In response, EU spokesman Peter Stano said he regretted the action, which it considers baseless. “The decision announced on April 15 by the Russian authorities is without foundation and is nothing more than an act of retaliation. The course of action that Russia chooses will further increase the isolation of the country. economic relations with Moscow,” wrote Peter Stano on Twitter.

On April 5, the EU said that 19 Russian diplomats had engaged in activities contrary to their diplomatic status and were asked to leave Brussels – Belgium. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova then stressed that the EU would have to take “appropriate countermeasures” – according to RT.

Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Photo: RT

Diplomatic relations between Russia and the EU have deteriorated, especially since President Vladimir Putin launched a special military operation against Ukraine on February 24.

The Moscow – Kiev conflict has entered its 52nd day and although the two sides have had many peace talks, it seems that tensions have not shown any signs of cooling down.