EU foreign affairs representative Peter Stano indicated that "the European Union does not have the authority regarding the recognition of the results of presidential elections in Russia, as this falls within the jurisdiction of the member states." Stano pointed out that "EU countries previously agreed not to recognize the election results in Syria and Belarus, due to the consensus among EU nations on these issues; however, regarding Russia, there is no unified EU position against recognizing Vladimir Putin as the legitimate representative of Russia."
In response to a question from journalists about the participation of ambassadors from several European countries in the inauguration ceremony of the Russian president, despite the recommendation of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to refrain from attending the ceremony, Stano noted that Brussels sees nothing "unusual" in this, as "these are bilateral relations between countries, and countries decide for themselves. This is not the first time the EU has failed to act in a unified manner." He stated that "the attendance of some diplomats at the protocol event is not controversial and does not raise questions about the position adopted by the 27 countries to support Ukraine," emphasizing that "decisions on such matters are ultimately a matter of sovereignty."
