Moscow rules out talks with 'incompetent' EU officials

Russian leadership says it will not engage with EU bureaucrats with regard to the war in Ukraine as EU restrictions on the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats takes force.

Moscow has ruled out the possibility of talks with European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on ending the war in Ukraine, characterizing her and the entire EU leadership as incompetent. Addressing Russian state television, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, said that the EU leadership lacks visionaries who can plan and foresee the consequences of their decisions. He went on to say that the EU was comprised of primarily untrained, incompetent bureaucrats who fail to grasp the realities of today's world.

Peskov added that the entire system of international relations is suffering because of this, rhetorically asking how anyone could hold meaningful discussions with someone like Kallas. He concluded that this was not possible; saying that Moscow will not engage with Kallas, but added that it was becoming evident that neither will the Americans. Ultimately, he said, there is nothing to do but wait for her inevitable departure. Peskov also noted the irony of the fact that the European Union has gone from a supposed dependence on Russian oil and gas to complete dependence on the United States.

Meanwhile, measures restricting the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats in the European Union came into force today. As such Russian diplomats, consular officials and their staff and family members, will now have to notify the country of destination and all transit countries at least 24 hours before traveling through the Schengen area outside their host country. The measure was formally adopted in October as part of a package of sanctions against Russia. The EU said the measures were being implemented in a bid to stop espionage and the spreading of disinformation about the Ukraine war in a bid to distort public opinion.

Source: HRT