President Barroso spoke with President Putin by phone yesterday following the trilateral talks of last Friday on the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Both Presidents marked their agreement with the joint conclusions reached in the Trilateral talks. These conclusions should be implemented and on the EU side this will now be discussed with the Member States. On this basis, President Putin confirmed that there would be no changes to the current bilateral trade regime between Russia and Ukraine. The two Presidents also discussed the energy situation and it was agreed that a trilateral meeting at ministerial level should take place. Russia will propose a date for this very shortly. President Barroso underlined the need for a full respect of the 12 point cease fire plan agreed in Minsk. Both Presidents agreed that these steps should contribute to a political and peaceful solution, in full respect of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
EU doesn't recognise local elections in Crimea
On 15 September, the European External Action Service (EEAS) commented on the reported holding of local elections in Crimea. EEAS said:
"The European Union continues to condemn the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and will not recognise it.
In view of reports about local "elections" having taken place in Crimea and Sevastopol, we recall that the European Union recognises neither the legal framework nor the legitimacy of these "elections."