The EU is acting without taking into account the negative consequences, Zakharova believes. In her opinion, this confirms that the European Union is trying to “contain Russia.” At the same time, Peskov and Lavrov did not see a threat to Moscow
Brussels' decision to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates for EU membership was made out of the interests of the political situation, and not on the basis of strict criteria in the field of the rule of law, the fight against corruption and economic development, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Her comment was published on the ministry's website.
“The European Union, in fact, confirmed that it continues the line of active geopolitical development of the CIS space, its use for the purpose of” containment ” Russia. Moreover, all means are used— from financial and economic leverage to military support”, — she wrote.
Ukraine withdrew from the CIS in March 2014, four years later, participation in the work of the statutory bodies of the Commonwealth was terminated. Moldova remains a member of the CIS, the authorities of the republic stated that the country's membership in the association depends on progress in European integration.
According to Zakharova, the EU authorities do not take into account the negative consequences of such a decision, and the situation is similar to the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008, when the alliance countries announced that Ukraine and Georgia would become members of the bloc. The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry is sure that European democratic ideals and the future of a united Europe are being sacrificed to the “unrestrained expansion of the EU”, as well as to the “enslavement” of neighboring states politically and economically.
“Economic and creative in this integration association, created in order to prevent wars in Europe, there is very little left. EU 'invests' even more in continuation of hostilities in Ukraine»,— emphasized Zakharova.
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This is how Zakharova commented on the decision of the European Union to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidate members, which was announced on June 23 by the head of the European Council, Charles Michel. On the eve of this decision was approved by the majority of deputies of the European Parliament: 529 votes “for”, 45 “against” and 14 abstained. Michel emphasized: “Historic moment. Today marks a decisive step on your path to the EU.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called this decision a victory that the country had been waiting for 30 years. “This is the biggest step towards the strengthening of Europe that could be done right now,” — he added. His Moldovan colleague Maia Sandu noted that the EU thus expressed “an unambiguous and strong signal of support for the citizens of Moldova and the European future of the country.”
Russian officials previously assessed the prospect of Ukraine receiving this status in different ways. In mid-May, Kyiv's commitment to this path raised “serious doubts” in Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He explained: this attitude is dictated by the fact that “the European Union has turned from a constructive economic platform, as which it was created, into an aggressive militant player.” At the same time, at the end of June, the minister noted that the European Union is not a military bloc, and therefore this decision does not pose any threats or risks to Russia.
“These are internal European affairs. It is very important for us that all these processes do not bring more problems to us <…>, these problems are already enough»,— considered the representative of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov after the publication of the decision of the European Union.
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