Putin announces that Russia is “ready to restore” relations with Europe. What conditions it sets

President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is willing to restore diplomatic relations with Europe to pre-invasion levels in Ukraine, despite political and economic ties being at their lowest point in decades, according to the Moscow Times.

Vladimir Putin / Ursula von der Leyen. PHOTO collage Getty Images

Speaking in the Kremlin, in front of the new foreign ambassadors, Putin stated that the official dialogue with the European states was “frozen”, and business contacts were drastically reduced.

The Russian president conveyed that a possible relaunch of the dialogue depends on “respecting national interests” and consideration of Russia's security concerns.

Putin invoked “historical roots” of relations with Europe and examples of cultural and economic cooperation in the past.

“We would like to believe that, in time, the situation will change, however, and our states will return to a normal and constructive dialogue”the Russian leader said, stressing that “respect for national interests and consideration of legitimate security concerns” are his preconditions for a return to friendly relations.

The Kremlin leader added:

“Russia has been and remains committed to exactly these approaches and is ready to restore the level of relations that we need.”

Putin's statements come in the context in which some European leaders have recently suggested the need for a new communication formula with Moscow.

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, stated that “the moment has arrivedl” for the resumption of high-level dialogue, and Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, spoke of creating a “framework” for direct talks with the Kremlin.

The European Commission said, however, that it still sees no signs of openness from Russia.

At the same time, there are fears in Brussels that Europe could be marginalized in the discussions on the future peace negotiations, so far dominated by the Kremlin and the US administration.