04:40European Foreign Ministers condemned Russia's presidential elections, while Lithuania's representative suggested that the country would 'consider all options' including troops in Ukraine, as they convened at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on Monday.
"The recent elections in Russia were an election without a choice," alleged Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that the 27 members would issue a statement on the voting.
"This has not been free and fair elections, no OSCE observation, a highly restricted environment, this diplomatically I can say, but more than that, this election has been based on repression and intimidation," he claimed.
Foreign Minister of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis also touched on the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron repeatedly called on allies not to 'rule it out'.
"Well, I don't believe there's a possibility to agree on something like this [developing EU troops in Ukraine], we have proved in the past that we are unable to agree on less sensitive issues, so I wouldn't believe that I'll be able to agree on something like this," he began. "We have to be clear that, as far as my country is concerned, we are ready to consider all options and be part of the coalitions that help Ukraine win this war."
Recently, Macron said allied nations shouldn't be 'cowards' about sending soldiers and last week compared the decision to considering whether or not to 'get up from a chair' when asked during a domestic TV interview - which was condemned by his political opponents. The US, UK, Germany and NATO have said that they won't be sending soldiers.
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stated that 'judging by Mr President's statements, France is not averse to increasing its involvement'. He previously accused Macron and other Western leaders of 'playing with fire' and escalating the conflict.
Earlier, Russia's Election Commission reported 'record breaking' turnout in the elections and head of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) observer mission Zhang Ming stated that the voting was 'transparent, credible and democratic' with 'no violations of national legislation that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the elections'.
With over 99 percent of the vote counted, incumbent President Vladimir Putin had secured more than 87 percent, according to the election commission, while the other three candidates had less than five percent each.
'Election without a choice' - EU FMs condemn Russian vote as Lithuania 'ready to consider all options' amid troops in Ukraine row
European Foreign Ministers condemned Russia's presidential elections, while Lithuania's representative suggested that the country would 'consider all options' including troops in Ukraine, as they convened at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on Monday.
"The recent elections in Russia were an election without a choice," alleged Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that the 27 members would issue a statement on the voting.
"This has not been free and fair elections, no OSCE observation, a highly restricted environment, this diplomatically I can say, but more than that, this election has been based on repression and intimidation," he claimed.
Foreign Minister of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis also touched on the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron repeatedly called on allies not to 'rule it out'.
"Well, I don't believe there's a possibility to agree on something like this [developing EU troops in Ukraine], we have proved in the past that we are unable to agree on less sensitive issues, so I wouldn't believe that I'll be able to agree on something like this," he began. "We have to be clear that, as far as my country is concerned, we are ready to consider all options and be part of the coalitions that help Ukraine win this war."
Recently, Macron said allied nations shouldn't be 'cowards' about sending soldiers and last week compared the decision to considering whether or not to 'get up from a chair' when asked during a domestic TV interview - which was condemned by his political opponents. The US, UK, Germany and NATO have said that they won't be sending soldiers.
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stated that 'judging by Mr President's statements, France is not averse to increasing its involvement'. He previously accused Macron and other Western leaders of 'playing with fire' and escalating the conflict.
Earlier, Russia's Election Commission reported 'record breaking' turnout in the elections and head of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) observer mission Zhang Ming stated that the voting was 'transparent, credible and democratic' with 'no violations of national legislation that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the elections'.
With over 99 percent of the vote counted, incumbent President Vladimir Putin had secured more than 87 percent, according to the election commission, while the other three candidates had less than five percent each.
European Foreign Ministers condemned Russia's presidential elections, while Lithuania's representative suggested that the country would 'consider all options' including troops in Ukraine, as they convened at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on Monday.
"The recent elections in Russia were an election without a choice," alleged Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that the 27 members would issue a statement on the voting.
"This has not been free and fair elections, no OSCE observation, a highly restricted environment, this diplomatically I can say, but more than that, this election has been based on repression and intimidation," he claimed.
Foreign Minister of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis also touched on the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron repeatedly called on allies not to 'rule it out'.
"Well, I don't believe there's a possibility to agree on something like this [developing EU troops in Ukraine], we have proved in the past that we are unable to agree on less sensitive issues, so I wouldn't believe that I'll be able to agree on something like this," he began. "We have to be clear that, as far as my country is concerned, we are ready to consider all options and be part of the coalitions that help Ukraine win this war."
Recently, Macron said allied nations shouldn't be 'cowards' about sending soldiers and last week compared the decision to considering whether or not to 'get up from a chair' when asked during a domestic TV interview - which was condemned by his political opponents. The US, UK, Germany and NATO have said that they won't be sending soldiers.
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stated that 'judging by Mr President's statements, France is not averse to increasing its involvement'. He previously accused Macron and other Western leaders of 'playing with fire' and escalating the conflict.
Earlier, Russia's Election Commission reported 'record breaking' turnout in the elections and head of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) observer mission Zhang Ming stated that the voting was 'transparent, credible and democratic' with 'no violations of national legislation that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the elections'.
With over 99 percent of the vote counted, incumbent President Vladimir Putin had secured more than 87 percent, according to the election commission, while the other three candidates had less than five percent each.