"Our common objective should be to re-establish a cooperative pan-European security order. I hope that you will use your fourth term in office to pursue this goal. I will always be a partner in this endeavor," EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in his congratulatory letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
EU politicians have been quick to react angrily to Juncker's move on their Twitter pages, with some slamming it as a "disgraceful act" – something that was echoed by an array of ordinary Twitter users.
Others, however, refused to join the chorus of criticism by signaling their support for Juncker's congratulations to Putin.
Earlier this week, 81-year-old US Senator John McCain harshly criticized President Donald Trump over his congratulations to the Russian President.
Several US media outlets reported that Trump extended his congratulation to Putin despite the warnings of multiple advisers and a note in his briefing telling him not to congratulate his Russian counterpart.
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"Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump said on his Twitter page when commenting on his congratulations to Putin, who gained more than 76 percent of the vote in the March 18 presidential elections in Russia.