Merkel and Macron condemn Russia’s expulsion of diplomats over Navalny protestsGerman and French leaders said construction of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would continue regardless.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday condemned Russia’s decision to expel diplomats from Sweden, Germany and Poland over their participation in protests against the imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
Speaking in Paris and Berlin after a virtual meeting on security policy and cooperation, Macron and Merkel jointly slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin over his treatment of Navalny.
Earlier Friday, Russia expelled the three EU diplomats — from Germany, Poland and Sweden — as EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. A statement from the European External Action Service said that Borrell learned of the expulsions “during” that meeting
