I want to set the record straight a bit on @JosepBorrellF and #Navalny because things look a bit distorted. 1) A number of foreign ministers had encouraged @JosepBorrellF to meet with Navalny if possible on a Moscow trip and the line at the time was let's see what we can do. -1-

2 - The EEAS was in touch with Navalny's team and were actively pursuing the possibility of a meeting. They wanted to know above all from Navalny's side whether a meeting would help or hurt him domestically given internal charges that he's a puppet of the west. -2-

3/ That continued until Weds, according to my sources. However something changed that day. He was sentenced. So he became not detained but jailed. After that, EU concluded that meeting him in those circumstances would be inappropriate & suggest they accepted the sentencing -3-

4/ It is not my understanding -- although I'm not 100% certain -- that at any point, Navalny's team definitely said please try and see him. I'm trying to find out. Now, you can agree or disagree with EEAS decision Weds to give up after the sentencing. But it is not the case-4-

...that the EEAS didn't seriously pursue the idea of a @JosepBorrellF, @Navalny meeting. END.