On 27 September 2022, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko received copies of credentials from the appointed Head of the European Union Delegation to the Russian Federation Roland Galharague.
During the meeting, the officials exchanged views on problematic issues in Russia-EU relations. The Russian side provided a principled assessment of the crisis state of this relationship, brought to a standstill by Brussels. It stressed the inadmissibility of recent confrontational statements with regard to our country made by the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell and other EU leaders, as well as of the ongoing supply of military and technical assistance, including lethal weapons, to Kiev by the EU.
Particular emphasis was placed on the unacceptability of open Russophobia and aggressive attacks against Russian citizens and Russian-speaking residents on the territory of EU Member States. The EU decision to completely suspend the Visa Facilitation Agreement, as well as the actions of some Member States to restrict the issuing of visas to certain categories of Russian citizens, which are close to interference in the internal affairs of our country, were qualified as discriminatory. The importance was stressed that the EU fulfils its commitments to ensure unimpeded transit between the Russian Federation and the Kaliningrad region. Special focus was put on the negative impact the EU's anti-Russian unilateral sanction decisions have on global food security. The need for all EU Member States to comply with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 was pointed out.
The participants agreed to maintain diplomatic contacts for prompt interaction on issues of mutual interest.
