EU views Russia as party to the conflict, not as mediator - President of Council of Europe

President of the European Council Charles Michel has stated that the European Union views Russia solely as a participant in the war in eastern Ukraine. Michel said this at a joint press conference with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the occasion of the participation of the EU leadership in the G7 summit, which starts tomorrow, - UNIAN reports.

"Russia will be one of the main topics. The G7 partners have a common opinion on the destructive actions of the Russian Federation. The EU condemns the illegal, provocative and destructive actions of Russia against the EU, its member states and outside the EU", - Michel stressed.

He recalled that this week, during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he had expressed the position of the European Union regarding the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

"I repeat that we perceive Russia as a party to the conflict, not as a mediator. We do not and will not recognize Russia's illegal annexation of the Crimea", - Michel stated.

The G7 Leaders Summit will take place in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, southwest England, on June 11-13.