Russian President Vladimir Putin and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, discussed the issues of combating the spread of Covid-19 and mutual licensing of passenger traffic, as well as the possibility of the European Union registering the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. of the member states of the European Union.
The two sides also discussed a number of current international issues. Putin stressed that although Russia and the European Union remain important trading partners for each other, bilateral relations cannot be described as satisfactory.
According to Moscow’s information, it was expressed at the hearing that it would be in the common interest to return to pragmatic and respectful cooperation. She called on the parties to intensify cooperation in specific areas such as health, climate change and the resolution of regional conflicts.
According to the Kremlin, Putin described the EU’s prolonged sanctions pressure on Belarus as counterproductive, as well as “as well as any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of this sovereign country.”
Regarding the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the parties discussed the importance of continuing the consistent implementation of the joint statements of the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia on November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021. The two leaders identified dismantling economic and transport links in the region and solving the humanitarian problems of the population as priorities. He assured Michel of his support for the ongoing work, including the work of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, the United States and France).
During the exchange of views on the “internal crisis in Ukraine,” the two sides noted that the 2015 Minsk package “remains the basis for an alternative without compromise.” Putin stressed that Kiev should fully implement the agreements reached earlier and, above all, enter into negotiations with Donetsk and Luhansk and integrate the special status of the Donetsk Basin into its legal system.
Putin and the President of the European Council also expressed their support for the interim Libyan authorities and called for more support for the political process.
