BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's upcoming visit to St. Petersburg is not related to the issue of sanctions against Russia, the Commission's chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas said Monday.
"Yes, I can indeed confirm that President Juncker has been invited and plans to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 16. The president will use this opportunity to convey to the Russian leadership, as well as to the wider audience, the EU's perspective regarding the current state of EU-Russia relations," Schinas told reporters.
"As for the sanctions, as you probably know, at the G7 summit last week the leaders recalled that the duration of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia's complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty…We don't see any inconsistency of the president to attend the St. Petersburg international forum," he added.
