MOSCOW. Feb 10 (Interfax) - The recent negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell did not focus solely on opposition activist Alexei Navalny, but they were much more substantive, and the negotiators agreed that, despite numerous problems in bilateral relations, Russia and the EU should have room for dialogue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"Indeed, we're following Mr. Borrell's remarks very closely. I'd like to say above all that, indeed, the negotiations in Moscow were much more substantive than only the one subject that has been mentioned and the person whom they support. They're supporting a convict, but it's hard to understand what exactly they're supporting about him," Peskov told journalists on Wednesday, when asked to comment on Borrell's remarks concerning his talks in Moscow, including warnings about possible new sanctions and mentioning the EU's support for Navalny.
Lavrov and Borrell agreed that, "despite the excessive potential for problems in our relations, there should be room for dialogue, after all," Peskov said.
"Mr. Borrell himself has also aired this idea. We like these statements by him better," he said.
The Kremlin agrees with Borrell that the relationship between Russia and the EU has worsened, inter alia, because of the "coup" in Ukraine in 2013-2014, Peskov said.
"This is true, it's these very situations that prompted our relations to deteriorate, and it's precisely then that a number of European countries, putting their signatures on a well-known document, failed to honor their obligations, which led to a coup, a forcible coup, actually in the heart of Europe. And that's precisely why our relations have worsened," he said.
"This is precisely why the Europeans have switched to double standards, which is absolutely unacceptable to us. And to our regret, it's precisely then that Brussels went down a path of curtailing dialogue with our country in virtually all areas. We've said repeatedly that we deeply regret this and are looking for ways to normalize our relations," which was also reiterated at the Moscow talks, Peskov said.