Finnish President Niiniste: refusing to contact Russia makes the EU look weak 
contacts with Russia. This was stated by Finnish President Sauli Niiniste, RIA Novosti reports.
The politician stressed that a constructive dialogue with Moscow does not contradict the upholding of European interests and principles in foreign policy. “Refusal of contacts with Russia does not strengthen the EU, but only makes it look weaker and less significant,” he concluded.
Earlier, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that the German authorities want to improve relations with Russia subject to the settlement of the conflict in Donbass on the basis of the Minsk agreements. “Of course we want better relations with Russia. They can only get better, “said the head of the German Foreign Ministry.