Russia’s neighbours concerned as EU plans resumption of talks with Putin

Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron want to resume talks with Russia (John Thys, Pool Photo via AP)

Countries bordering Russia have expressed deep concern about a Franco-German plan to resume official meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, likening the move to an attempt to talk a bear out of trying to steal honey.

The European Union is deeply divided in its approach to Moscow. Russia is the EU’s biggest natural gas supplier, and plays a key role in a series of international conflicts and issues linked to Europe’s strategic interests, including the Iran nuclear deal, and conflicts in Syria and Libya.