Following the EU-Russia Summit Werner Schulz, Green MEP and Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, declared:

 The first EU-Russia Summit held with Vladimir Putin back in the president's chair demonstrates nothing but the deep crisis in the EU-Russia relationship. Currently, Russia does not appear as a strategic partner of the EU. There are no common interests and values both partners share.

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution on the situation in the Ukraine, highlighting the problems with human rights and political repression. Commenting on the outcome, Green foreign affairs spokesperson Werner Schulz said:

"The opposition politicians who were responsible for bringing the European championships to the Ukraine will be languishing behind bars, while the current regime will be sitting in the stands and basking in the glow of the tournament."It is high time to show this regime the red card for its persistent abuse of human rights and political repression.

The mass protests since the falsified Duma election last December have changed Russia, writes Green EU MP Werner Schultz in a viewpoint article for EurActiv.de. The country’s political system is more fragile than ever. The politics of the street appear exhausted. Whether Russia will venture down the path toward a modern future or remain mired in stagnation will be determined during Vladimir Putin’s third term as president.