Josep Borrell: EU and Russia Willing to Develop Ties Despite Controversies

The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell said during a visit to Moscow on Friday that the bloc's ties with Russia were under "severe strain" following the arrest and imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

"Our relationship is indeed in a difficult moment," Borrell said at the start of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, adding that "certainly our relations are under severe strain and the Navalny case is a low point".

His visit - the first to Russia by a top EU envoy since 2017 - has drawn criticism from some European capitals worried Moscow will spin it as evidence Brussels is keen to return to business as normal.

But Borrell has insisted he will deliver "clear messages" to the Kremlin despite it blanking Western calls to release President Vladimir Putin's most prominent domestic opponent, who was given a jail term of almost three years on Tuesday.

"It is when things are not going well that you must engage," the former Spanish foreign minister said ahead of his trip.

In comments to Borrell at the start of Friday's talks, Lavrov said Russia was "ready to answer any questions".

"The main problem is a lack of normality in relations between Russia and the EU, the two largest players in Europe," said the Russian foreign minister. "It doesn't benefit anyone."

The EU's ties with Russia have been in the doldrums since Moscow seized Crimea and began fuelling the war in Ukraine in 2014 - and there are concerns about its involvement in Belarus, Syria, Libya, central Africa and the Caucasus.

Borrell is eager to sound out his veteran counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the chances of cooperation on issues including enlisting Russia's help in reviving the Iran nuclear deal and tackling climate change...