European Council President Denies EU Maintaining Anti-Russia Policy

European Council (EC) President Donald Tusk said that the EU does not provide a policy against Russia, the EU policy aims at ensuring the respect of peace and borders in Europe.

RIGA, January 9 (Sputnik) — The European Union does not have any specific policies directed against Moscow, European Council (EC) President Donald Tusk said Friday.

"The EU does not have a policy against Russia. We have a policy that is aimed at ensuring the respect of peace and borders in Europe," Tusk said in a press statement following a meeting with Prime minster of Latvia Laimdota Straujuma.

Tusk also expressed his hope that Latvia's presidency of the EU council will be efficient and productive. Latvia has been presiding over the EU council since January 1.

Relations between Russia and the West have dramatically deteriorated amid the Ukrainian crisis, with European countries accusing Moscow of interfering in the Ukrainian internal conflict. During 2014, Brussels, Washington and a number of other nations imposed several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia.

Late in December, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that relations with Europe will remain Moscow's foreign policy priority despite the current tensions.