Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Comments on EU Reaction to Stubb and Store’s Call to Moscow

Dragon Media News Desk

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has commented on the European Union’s strong reaction to a phone call with Moscow by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

In an interview with the Vedomosti daily, Grushko said EU policies were aimed at prolonging the conflict in Ukraine and preventing the prospects for a peaceful settlement. He said the call by Stubb and Store did not fit that approach, prompting a strong reaction within the bloc.

On October 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with the Finnish and Norwegian leaders at their request. They discussed the conflict in Ukraine and security in the Baltic region and Northern Europe.

The leaders also welcomed an agreement to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November.