Brussels: The ceremony commemorating the commencement of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fifth term in office has sparked divisions within the European Union regarding the appropriate diplomatic response.
According to multiple EU diplomats in Brussels, countries like France, Hungary, and Slovakia advocate for sending representatives to Putin’s inauguration ceremony as a means to maintain open channels of dialogue. Conversely, Germany and several other EU member states deem such participation as inappropriate, especially amidst Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Office explicitly stated Germany’s decision not to attend the event.
Also Read | European Companies Tread Cautiously Amid China’s Belt and Road Challenges
Furthermore, in response to cyberattacks targeting the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and German companies, Germany has recalled its ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, for consultations in Berlin. These attacks are attributed to a unit of the Russian military intelligence service, as asserted by the German government.
Also Read | Russia Blocks UN Resolution on Space Nuclear Weapons Ban, Proposes Ban on All Celestial Weaponry
Most ambassadors from EU member states, including the European Union’s official representative in Moscow, will also be absent from the ceremony. Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, has voiced opposition to the EU’s participation in the event, although dissenting voices within the diplomatic circles cautioned that non-attendance could potentially embolden Russia to flout diplomatic norms in the future.
Read Also | Medvedev Warns of Nuclear Retaliation Against NATO Troop Deployment in Ukraine
Putin is scheduled to take the oath for another term as Russian president on Tuesday morning, marking the beginning of an additional six years in office.
