Ambassador: France opposed to rift between Russia, Europe
MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Paris is unwilling to accept a rift between Russia and Europe over the Ukraine situation, French Ambassador in Moscow Jean-Maurice Ripert said in an interview published by newspaper Kommersant on Thursday.
"We do not want to put up with the split, with Russia's estrangement from Europe or Europe's [estrangement] from Russia. The notion of Eurasia does not bother me as this is a reality. Russia is a bridge between Europe and Asia. And Russia naturally belongs to Europe," Ripert said.
The French ambassador added that Paris could not accept the events evolving on the Ukrainian territory either.
"The humanitarian position of Donbas is catastrophic. It cannot go on this way. France and Germany together with Russia have trust-based relations with the conflicting sides and can convince them of the need to find a solution," he pointed out.
As to the possible lifting of Western sanctions against Russia, Ripert said that might happen after the fulfillment of the Minsk accords.
"The Crimea issue lingers on. We do not recognize the annexation of Crimea which we deem illegal. So, probably, some sanctions will stay in effect," he said.
At the same time, there is no point speaking about a Cold War under modern circumstances, the French Ambassador to Russia opined.
"We will not slide back to the past. Our heads of state meet and our companies cooperate outside sanctions-riddled areas. We continue working together apart from in the Ukraine crisis. We are interacting in the fight against terrorism and the Middle East peace process and are preparing an international climate change conference to take place in Paris in December of this year," he said.
It will be possible to speak about the main thing, "the future relationship between Russia and the EU and relations between the EU and the Eurasian Union after peace is restored in Ukraine," Ripert said.
"This is of paramount importance for the future of our continent," he said in conclusion.