Czech EU presidency accuses Russian foreign minister of talking ‘nonsense’

The Czech EU presidency accused Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of talking ‘nonsense’ on Monday in retaliation to comments Mr Lavrov made about the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative. Last month, Mr Lavrov said that the EU was seeking to establish a ‘sphere of influence’ in the former Soviet Union through its partnership scheme, which will be launched in Prague on May 7. Through the scheme, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova are all set to strengthen ties and increase trade with the European Union. Speaking on Monday, outgoing Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said that it was not helpful to talk about Europe in terms of ‘spheres of influence’, and said that Mr Lavrov knew himself that he was talking ‘nonsense’.

Author: Rosie Johnston