MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia has an opportunity to work alongside the European Union as a partner, he added, stressing that the country had a duty to use its powers for the greater good.
"If our relationship today is troubled and marked by mistrust, it is not broken beyond repair. We need to mend it, and I believe we can. I have always believed in the power of dialogue. When our relations are tense, we must keep talking. Even when economic sanctions are in place, we must keep the door open. And if I am here with you today, it is because I want to build a bridge," Juncker said.
"Russia is party to the Minsk agreement, it has made commitments, put them on paper as have done the other signatories. Therefore, the next step is clear, full implementation of the agreements, no more, no less. This is the only way to begin our conversation and the only way to lift the economic sanctions that have been imposed," Juncker said.
Juncker also said that he would discuss the issue of the EU sanctions against Russia with President Vladimir Putin later in the day.
SPIEF started at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre in St. Petersburg earlier on Thursday. The forum is taking place on June 16-18.
