Ukraine was relegated to secondary roles in Berlin
The “Normandy Format” today is the only negotiating platform for Russia and Europe, and the Ukrainian issue there is far from the most important. Andrey Suzdaltsev, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Relations at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, stated this at a press conference in Moscow.
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“The Normandy Four is the only negotiating format that is still preserved between Russia and Europe. If there is a platform, the agenda will expand. For example, in Berlin the main thing was not the Ukrainian, but the Syrian issue. Ukraine is being relegated to secondary roles. There will be some other problems. And the “Normandy format” will turn into such a gateway for communication between Russia and Europe. Ukrainians don’t understand that their topics are important, but not primary,” Suzdaltsev said.
He believes that the leaders of Germany and France used the last meeting in the Normandy format to state their positions on the Syrian issue.
“The main issue was Syrian. Germany, France, and the European Union are not involved in Syrian issues now. Discussing this topic in the “Normandy format” is an opportunity for them to jump on the departing train. Somehow join the Washington-Moscow line,” Suzdaltsev said.
Ukraine was relegated to a secondary role in Berlin.