European commission president acknowledged criticisms but says talking must go on even with sanctions in place

The European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, has justified his trip to meet the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, during a speech in St Petersburg, arguing that Europe must continue dialogue with Russia despite western sanctions against it.



“There are those who like the idea [for me] to be here and those who don’t like the idea. I like the idea,” Juncker said at the opening of the annual St Petersburg international economic forum, drawing applause among the many high-powered Russian businessmen and politicians present.

“When our relations are tense we must keep talking, even when economic sanctions are in place we must keep talking, and I’m here today because I want to build a bridge,” he said. He has known Putin for years and speaks to him “often and … openly,” he added.

The visit to Russia is the first by the leader of an EU institution since 2014, when the the bloc adopted sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea and backing of separatists in eastern Ukraine. It comes before EU discussions in July about renewing the sanctions, which have been questioned by some member states.

Other speakers at the forum include the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon. Crimea’s leader, Sergei Aksyonov, was also in attendance.

Juncker’s trip was criticised by the Baltic countries, where US troops are currently conducting war games in a show of strength. MEPs from several other countries said in a letter that it would “strengthen Putin’s position and set a precedent for doing ‘business as usual’”.

Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine had put the “very principles of European security through a severe test,” Juncker said. Artillery attacks and movements in eastern Ukraine have reportedly intensified in recent weeks.

He said Russia must now completely fulfil the Minsk agreement on ending the conflict. “This is the only way to lift the economic sanctions. On the Minsk agreement, the European Union is united, and so is the G7,” he said.

Asked later if he thought the sanctions had changed Russia’s behaviour, Juncker brusquely replied he would discuss the issue with Putin on Thursday afternoon.

Juncker and Putin may also talk about the controversial expansion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, which would likely cut into the transit fees that cash-strapped Ukraine makes on Russian gas.

Juncker also touched on the possibility of Brexit, saying it “would open a period of major uncertainty between Britain and the European Union and more globally” if the UK votes next week to leave the EU. He insisted, however, that the union would not be “in danger of death”.