Russia not trying to split EU, Putin says before rare visit to Western Europe

[webfact]

Russia not trying to split EU, Putin says before rare visit to Western Europe

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin answers questions from journalists during a joint news conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 30, 2018. Pavel Golovkin/Pool via REUTERS

 

VIENNA (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview broadcast on Monday, said he did not want to divide the European Union as he prepared to visit Austria in his first bilateral trip to a West European country in almost a year.

 

"We do not pursue the objective of dividing anything or anyone in the EU," Putin told broadcaster ORF.

 

"We are far more interested in the EU being united and flourishing because the EU is our most important trading and economic partner."

 

Putin, who has not made a bilateral visit to a West European country since he went to Finland last July, will meet government and business leaders in Austria in a trip which officially marks 50 years since the two countries' energy firms Gazprom <GAZP.MM> and OMV <OMVV.VI> first signed a gas supply deal.

 

He will attend a business conference with envoys from both countries.

 

But the issue of EU sanctions, imposed on Russia because of its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, will weigh in any official talks he has.

 

Moscow's ties with EU countries remain strained after Russia's annexation of Crimea, its involvement in Syria and eastern Ukraine and the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain. London has blamed the nerve agent poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter on Russia but Moscow has denied any involvement.

 

Austria's coalition government of conservatives and the pro-Putin far right was in a minority of EU governments that did not expel any Russian diplomats over the Skripal case and Austria, despite its membership of the EU, points to its history of neutrality and its relatively warm relations with Russia.

 

Moscow wants the EU to lift sanctions, but the bloc has linked that to progress on the ground, which has not happened.

 

Austria, which takes over the rotating EU presidency in July, has said it wants to act as a bridge between east and west.

 

The leader of the far-right Freedom Party, which has a cooperation agreement with Putin's United Russia party, called this weekend for sanctions to be lifted.

 

But Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his conservatives, who control Austria's EU policy, have said Austria will toe the EU line.

 

"We decide pragmatically whether to cooperate with someone politically," Putin said when asked in the interview about United Russia's ties with far-right parties.

 

"We try to work with those who publicly express the wish themselves to work with us," he added.

 

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk in Moscow; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-05

[selftaopath]

Putin is a pathological liar like his puppet Trump.

[BuaBS]

Now that's disappointing . A lot of us are hoping for a split EU , or even better an end to the EU.

Only economic , like it was before : EEC.

[samran]

Doublespeak by Putin.

 

Of course he’s not trying to split the EU. 

 

But he’s more than happy to encourage those in the EU who want it split.

 

Divide, conquer - extending Vlads influence. 

 

And you blokes are tripping over yourselves to see who can help him the most. 

 

3 hours ago, BuaBS said:

Now that's disappointing . A lot of us are hoping for a split EU , or even better an end to the EU.

Only economic , like it was before : EEC.

 

[tomacht8]

Punitive Duties against the EU, Sanctions against Iran and Russia:

Since the bully Trump resided in the white house, the usa is no longer internationally reliable. That could lead to Europe looking for Moscow's proximity. Increasing cooperation at the economic level supports this assumption.

[Morch]

57 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

Punitive Duties against the EU, Sanctions against Iran and Russia:

Since the bully Trump resided in the white house, the usa is no longer internationally reliable. That could lead to Europe looking for Moscow's proximity. Increasing cooperation at the economic level supports this assumption.

 

Unlikely. The EU having a rough time with Trump, doesn't mean their stance vs. Russia changed much. But it's alright to fantasize.

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Unlikely. The EU having a rough time with Trump, doesn't mean their stance vs. Russia changed much. But it's alright to fantasize.

European reliance on Russian gas is higher up the list of concerns.

[Morch]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

European reliance on Russian gas is higher up the list of concerns.

 

Two way street. Russia needs buyers. The notion that this somehow relates to Europe changing course and getting in bed with Putin is still unsupported. Trump will be out in a couple of years, at most.

[Chomper Higgot]

34 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Two way street. Russia needs buyers. The notion that this somehow relates to Europe changing course and getting in bed with Putin is still unsupported. Trump will be out in a couple of years, at most.

I’m not convinced Trump will last that long.

 

Yes, two way street re gas/cash but turning off the gas is immediately effective, a mere ‘accidental’ disruption may easily be read as a warning to ease up on Russia.

 

The EU getting into bed with Russia, not a chance though authoritarians with rightwing political parties (and there sponsors) are clearly open to the idea.

[Morch]

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m not convinced Trump will last that long.

 

Yes, two way street re gas/cash but turning off the gas is immediately effective, a mere ‘accidental’ disruption may easily be read as a warning to ease up on Russia.

 

The EU getting into bed with Russia, not a chance though authoritarians with rightwing political parties (and there sponsors) are clearly open to the idea.

 

Turning off the gas, as you put it, means no revenues. Even if this was to happen - not exactly a basis for friendly relations and a shift of alliance. It's leverage, that's all. And I think Europe might take some steps to improve its situation in the not so far future (for example, Mediterranean partnerships).

 

IMO, Europe ought to try and weather the storm, as far as Trump goes (or rather, until he goes away). Standing up to him and all that, but not letting things getting out of hand. At the same time, come up with ways to ensure its independence could be better guarded in the future. Stave off advances and plots by Putin, and address issues making secessionist forces popular. Once Trump's gone, drive a hard bargain with the next POTUS, possibly setting some new grounds rules regarding the relations.