Milan, 12 May (LaPresse) – The actions of the European Union leadership preclude its participation in efforts aimed at shifting the conflict in Ukraine into a political and diplomatic arena. This was stated to journalists by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, who accused the EU of seeking to prolong the conflict. This was reported by the Russian news agency Tass. ‘This logic determines their actions. And so, for now, it rules out any constructive participation by the European Union in efforts to channel the conflict into a political and diplomatic framework,’ said the deputy minister. ‘Their position on the substance of a peace agreement also precludes its achievement. And it rules out the European Union as any kind of mediator or participant,’ he concluded.