EU Rules Out Putin Summit
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Following a European meeting that did not succeed in preparing for dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, European Leaders state that it is unlikely that the summit will occur without a change on Putin's end.
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The announcement came after European leaders failed to set up a dialogue with the Russian president.
The European Union stated Friday that it is unlikely that the summit with Putin will occur due to the absence of the necessary conditions.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel that "We defined again under what conditions we are prepared to work and communicate more closely with Russia... There was no agreement today on an immediate leaders' meeting."
Merkel announced that European Union leaders failed to agree on the summit with Russia proposed by Berlin and Paris, saying that it was a very inclusive and hard discussion.
Previously, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the relations between Russia and the European Union are transforming negatively, clarifying that she is looking forward to more positive relations.
France and Germany called for resuming dialogue with Russia. Still, the idea of ​​resuming it at the summit level between the European Union and Russia led to the division of European leaders.
Relations between the European Union and Russia have deteriorated since the restoration of Crimea and the start of the conflict in Ukraine in 2014.
The European Union imposed heavy economic sanctions on Russia, which retaliated. No meeting was organized between the European Union and Putin.
