Mogherini Says EU FMs to Discuss Relations With Russia in February, March

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini reported that the European Union Foreign Affairs Council would hold talks on the relations between the EU and Russia at its meetings in February and March.

BRUSSELS, January 19 (Sputnik) — The European Union Foreign Affairs Council will continue discussing the relations between the EU and Russia at its upcoming meetings in February and March, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday.

“We will definitely come back to this [the EU relations with Russia] in the coming Foreign Affairs Council meetings, before the March European Council [EU leaders summit]… we have another Foreign Affairs Council in three weeks and then again in March,” Mogherini said at a press conference following the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Mogherini added that the EU countries remain united in their stance on Russia.

“Our relations with Russia can change only if – I hope it’s ‘when’, but at the moment it’s ‘if’ – the commitment that were taken in Minsk are implemented,” Mogherini said, adding that the latest developments are "not encouraging."

Relations between Moscow and Brussels deteriorated significantly in the spring of 2014, after Crimea’s reunification with Russia. The European Union imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia, accusing Moscow of meddling in Ukraine’s internal affairs. Russia responded with a ban on agricultural exports from the EU and several other countries that introduced restrictions against it.

Earlier on Monday, foreign ministers of Ireland and the UK said easing the EU anti-Russia sanctions at the moment would be untimely.