“In any case, dialogue is very important, it is one of our instruments, and we must provide some space for dialogue on the issues pertaining to our interests,” Grlić Radman said in Brussels ahead of the start of the council’s meeting.
The meeting is expected to pave the way towards imposing sanctions on Russia over the detainment of the chief Opposition activist Alexei Navalny.
The European Union’s High Representative Josep Borrell was quoted by foreign media as threatening Russia with sanctions again over the jailing of Navalny.
Measures are expected to be discussed at today’s meeting of EU ministers of foreign affairs.
The European Union’s member states are not unanimous in their position on this matter.
Eastern and Baltic countries demand very tough action against Moscow. However, Italy, Greece and Cyprus seem very lenient towards Russia, while the remaining members are in the middle between those two groups.
The meeting of the EU’s foreign ministers will include a wide-ranging video conference with new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The talks with Blinken will refer to three issues: the diversification of energy sources, including the Three Seas Initiative, the integration of Western Balkans into European and transatlantic processes, and addressing the challenges in the Middle East, according to Grlić Radman.
