"There is a lot common ground [with Russia] on some issues, and that common ground needs to be developed," Guehenno said on Friday.
It is true, Guehenno noted, that in a number of cases Russia could have acted differently, yet that is not a reason to not engage Moscow diplomatically.
"Russia is a great power, is a European power, so it’s very important that Russia be part of the solution of all the crises in Europe," he added.
Russia has played a very positive role in the negotiations that resolved the Iranian nuclear crisis, Guehenno said, and that type of cooperation needs to be furthered developed.
Relations between Russia and the Western countries deteriorated in 2014 after the eruption of the Ukrainian crisis and the Crimean reunification with Russia.
The United States, the European Union as well as some other countries introduced personal and economic sanctions against Russia and Crimea in particular. Russia responded with introducing an embargo on food import from the countries that imposed sanctions on Russia.
