The Kremlin said the outlook for EU-Russia ties was bleak after EU leaders nominated Ursula von der Leyen for another term as European Commission president and chose Estonian Kaja Kallas as the EU’s next high representative for foreign policy and security.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the bloc’s decision to nominate German von der Leyen for a second five-year term will not change anything.
“Ms. von der Leyen is not in favor of normalizing relations between the EU and Russia. We know her like that, we remember her like that. Nothing changes in this regard,” said Peskov.
Commenting on the election of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as EU foreign policy chief, Peskov said that she is known for her anti-Russian rhetoric.
“Ms. Kallas has also not shown any diplomatic inclinations so far, and in our country she is known for her absolutely unyielding and sometimes even openly anti-Russian statements,” he said.
He said that he does not think that European diplomacy will in any way contribute to the normalization of relations.
“As far as relations between Moscow and Brussels are concerned, the prospects are very bad,” Peskov said, according to Reuters.
