MEPs from Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, and Luxembourg, led by Fernand Kartheiser (independent MEP), participated in the discussion.
As Committee Chairman Leonid Slutsky stated, this is essentially a partial unfreezing of contacts with representatives of the European Parliament and a resumption of dialogue interrupted in 2014. “This is the first meeting between members of the European Parliament and the State Duma after an 11-year hiatus. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and respect for your courage and open dialogue,” Slutsky said.
The MEPs raised the issue of the conflict in Ukraine and ways to resolve it. Leonid Slutsky outlined in detail Russia’s approaches to the issues of equal and indivisible security and the underlying reasons for the launch of the NWO, emphasizing our country’s readiness for peace talks. “This issue was discussed, including at the meeting of the Presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States in Alaska. Dialogue is ongoing, and we look forward to its constructive development. “We see a threat to national security in Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, whose member states have created an anti-Russian foothold in Ukraine and continue to wage a proxy war against Russia from its territory. Our goal is to ensure that the Kyiv Nazi regime ceases to threaten Russians, first and foremost. We had no choice but to respond to the genocide of the Donbas residents by the followers of Bandera and Shukhevych and launch a joint military operation. But we are ready for negotiations and real steps to achieve peace and eliminate the root causes of the conflict,” the Committee Chairman noted.
EP representatives also inquired about the position of Russian parliamentarians on the possibility of restoring Russia’s cooperation with European countries, including in the economic and trade spheres. Leonid Slutsky explained that it is the illegal anti-Russian sanctions that are hindering the normalization of cooperation, and European consumers are suffering as a result. “Russia is quite successfully developing economic and trade ties with the countries of the Global Majority, while Europe has a major energy problem. Let me remind you that, in particular, Germany’s gas distribution equipment is designed for Russian gas, the so-called heavy fractions of natural gas. This equipment is located in dozens of German cities, ensuring energy security for years and decades. The refusal to use Russian gas has led to very negative consequences. But Russia is not to blame for this. We believe that common-sense representatives of the European Parliament could initiate a return to economic cooperation and energy balance,” Slutsky stated.
The Committee Chairman assured that Russian MPs are ready for an open, equal, and mutually respectful dialogue with MEPs. “Today’s meeting is the first in a new regular format of communication, which can be considered relaunched and already operational,” he concluded.
For his part, Fernand Kartheiser recalled that he had already visited Russia in May of this year, and an agreement was reached to continue contacts via videoconference. “This is a significant meeting for us.” “We must not withdraw from dialogue. On the contrary, we must jointly discuss issues related to the Ukrainian settlement, achieving lasting peace, restoring cooperation, and countering the arms race,” the member of the European Parliament said.
From the Russian side, members of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Vyacheslav Nikonov, Alexey Chepa, Maria Butina, and Dmitry Kuznetsov also participated in the discussion.
