On 16 June, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the 20th St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Underlining the reasons for his visit, President Juncker said: “In the coming weeks, the European Union and its Member States will hold a number of important meetings. We will spend many hours talking about our relations with Russia. I take the view that we must also talk with Russia – its leadership, its people. For some this may be a radical idea, for me it is common sense.“
The President highlighted the urgency of implementing the Minsk agreements as the first step towards better relations: “Russia is party to the Minsk agreements. It has made commitments and put them on paper, as have the other signatories. Therefore, the next step is clear: full implementation of the agreements. No more, no less.” At the same time, he set out a vision for future relations between the EU and Russia: “For the European Union and Russia, the prize, one day, could be great: a vast region governed by the rule of law, trading freely and working together on common projects. Of course, this will not happen overnight, but it is not a utopian vision. It is one which – with good will and ambition on both sides – would serve the best interests of our citizens.”
President Juncker had the opportunity to reiterate these messages in a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was held in a good atmosphere. President Juncker and President Putin agreed to stay in close contact.
