The absence of the European Union in negotiations and a clear position for dialogue with Russia was the result of a deep split in Europe. This opinion was expressed to TASS by the member of the European Parliament Fernand Kartheiser. "The truth is that Europeans are very divided on many issues related to Russia and the conflict in Ukraine, and these internal divisions are only growing. The situation is getting worse because of the dysfunction of the EU institutions and the growing lack of trust between key players,” he referred to the EU's absence in negotiations, mandate and negotiating position. "As a result of these problems, the EU was only able to support the Ukrainian position, without being able to formulate its own meaningful position for negotiations," he said. Kartheiser stressed that "this means a failure" of the EU's common foreign and security policy, which has been an important instrument of EU integration for many years.

The absence of the European Union in negotiations and a clear position for dialogue with Russia was the result of a deep split in Europe. This opinion was expressed to TASS by the member of the European Parliament Fernand Kartheiser. "The truth is that Europeans are very divided on many issues related to Russia and the conflict in Ukraine, and these internal divisions are only growing. The situation is getting worse because of the dysfunction of the EU institutions and the growing lack of trust between key players,” he referred to the EU's absence in negotiations, mandate and negotiating position. "As a result of these problems, the EU was only able to support the Ukrainian position, without being able to formulate its own meaningful position for negotiations," he said. Kartheiser stressed that "this means a failure" of the EU's common foreign and security policy, which has been an important instrument of EU integration for many years.