Borrell noted the importance of negotiations with Russia on certain issues

BRUSSELS, September 13 — PRIME. The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, believes that negotiations with Russia on a number of issues should be conducted, including the topic of the security of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

“Is it necessary to speak with the Russian leadership? We are diplomats and we are ready to talk with everyone who is ready to contact us … French President Macron has been talking with Putin in recent days, discussing the security situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. We need to talk about this. We must continue, for this we have all the necessary diplomatic channels,” Borrell said, answering deputies’ questions at the plenary session in Strasbourg.

He noted that there are issues that “cannot be resolved without the Russians.” Borrell pointed to negotiations under the auspices of the UN, which made it possible to unblock the supply of agricultural products to world markets.

At the same time, answering a question about anti-Russian sanctions and their effectiveness, Borrell compared them to a diet. In his opinion, the sanctions cannot be lifted until they bring results.

“It’s like a diet, the result is not achieved the next day. Measures must be taken, and gradually there will be an effect. But if you drop everything abruptly, then the kilograms can return,” he said.

After the start of the special operation in Ukraine, the West stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia, which led to an increase in prices for electricity, fuel and food in Europe and the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously stated that the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy for the West, and sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy.