Sehar Timings Mar 29 - Ramazan 18

Lahore
LHR
04:36 AM
Karachi
KHI
05:12 AM
Islamabad
ISB
04:38 AM
Peshawar
PWR
04:42 AM
Quetta
QTA
05:07 AM

News

Merkel says sovereign EU should be able to talk to Putin

June 25, 2021 08:07 PM


German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday insisted that the EU should be able to talk to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, after other leaders from the bloc thwarted her push for a summit.

"The president of the US met for a serious talk with Vladimir Putin, which I did not have the impression was a reward for the Russian president," Merkel told a press conference after EU talks in Brussels. 

"A sovereign EU, in my opinion, should also be able to represent the interests of the EU in such a similar conversation."

Germany and France rattled wary EU counterparts -- especially those neighbouring Russia -- with a proposal to restart talks between Putin and the bloc, frozen since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. 

Leaders rejected the push during hours of late-night wrangling in Brussels, with opponents arguing it risked sending the wrong message to Putin in the face of ongoing aggression from Moscow. 

"We believe that it is far too premature and that now it would be a kind of reward for Russia's President, for his politics, but unfortunately aggressive policy, provoking neighbours, attacks of various kinds," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. 

Italy's Mario Draghi, who backed a meeting between all EU leaders and Putin, said that the proposal had come "a bit as a surprise" and upset the countries most worried about Moscow.

He said that the bloc had "substantially shelved this idea, at least for the moment".

The Kremlin said it "regretted" the decision by the EU to reject talks and insisted that Putin "remains interested in establishing working relations between Moscow and Brussels".

 

 



Most Read

  1. Man murders young sister by smothering her with pillow in Toba Tek Singh Man murders young sister by smothering her with pillow in Toba Tek Singh
  2. Aitchison College students, parents stage protest against principal’s resignation Aitchison College students, parents stage protest against principal’s resignation
  3. Five Chinese among six killed in Shangla suicide bombing Five Chinese among six killed in Shangla suicide bombing
  4. Sahiba meets her father for the first time Sahiba meets her father for the first time
  5. Maaz Safder regrets 4-year relationship with wife Saba Maaz Safder regrets 4-year relationship with wife Saba
  6. ‘Khaie's incredible ending receives rave reviews and big applause ‘Khaie's incredible ending receives rave reviews and big applause

Opinion

  1. IMEC to sabotage CPEC
    IMEC to sabotage CPEC

    By Dr Asif Channer

  2. 1947 TO FORM 47
    1947 TO FORM 47

    By Dr Asif Channer

  3. Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....
    Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....

    By Ali Ramay

  4. Global race: China will reduce its unnecessary expenses
    Global race: China will reduce its unnecessary expenses

    By Ali Ramay

  5. Channer Pir: The Great Saint of Cholistan
    Channer Pir: The Great Saint of Cholistan

    By Dr Asif Channer

  6. Literate the Religious Illiterate
    Literate the Religious Illiterate

    By Dr Asif Channer