OREANDA-NEWS   Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed skepticism about the prospects for negotiations with Russia on ending the conflict in Ukraine and called on the European Union to be "as tough as possible" with Moscow. This is reported by Politico.

"I'm a little skeptical," Tusk said, calling on the European Union to show "maximum rigidity" in relation to anti—Russian sanctions. According to him, only such an approach can bring results in a dialogue with the Russian Federation.

The 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia came into force yesterday after Hungary and Slovakia withdrew their objections. Tusk also called it a "huge relief" that "for the first time in many years [at Friday's EU summit in Cyprus] there are no Russians in the hall."

Earlier, Kirill Dmitriev, the special representative of the Russian president for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, reminded the Polish Prime Minister about the energy crisis in response to the words about the absence of "Russians" at a meeting of the European Council.

"I'll see you in two months, when you will be begging Russia for energy supplies. Please stock up on enough aviation fuel before the flight," Dmitriev said.