On 16 March 2022 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko received Ekaterini Nassika, Pierre Levy and Krzysztof Krajewski, Ambassadors to Russia of the Hellenic Republic, the French Republic and the Republic of Poland respectively, as well as the Head of the European Union Delegation to the Russian Federation Markus Ederer.
Emphasis was placed by the Russian side on the threat posed by the EU decision, taken in violation of its own commitments, to provide Kiev with military and technical assistance, including lethal weapons, as well as the one taken by certain EU Member States to allow mercenaries to take part in hostilities in Ukraine. It was stressed that such steps would not be left without consequences.
The discussion addressed humanitarian issues, including evacuation of foreign nationals from the area of the special military operation in Ukraine.
Particular focus was put on the inadmissibility of overt Russophobia and aggressive attacks against Russian citizens and Russian-speaking residents in the territory of EU Member States. The Russian side noted the importance of compliance by all EU Member States with the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to ensure security and normal functioning of Russian foreign missions.
