Sources: Vietnam Postpones Meeting with EU Sanctions Chief in Anticipation of Potential Visit from Putin

Vietnam Delays Meeting with EU Official on Russian Sanctions Amid Possible Putin Visit

HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam’s foreign affairs ministry has informed the European Union that it will not be available for a meeting next week with the bloc’s top official on Russian sanctions, diplomats revealed. This decision comes as Hanoi gears up for a potential visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vietnam has been actively pursuing a neutral foreign policy in its interactions with major global powers. The country has refrained from condemning Russia’s recent attack on Ukraine, a stance that has drawn criticism from Western nations who view it as being too aligned with the Kremlin.

David O’Sullivan, the special envoy for the implementation of EU sanctions, was scheduled to travel to Southeast Asia next week and had planned to meet with Vietnamese officials on May 13-14. However, Hanoi requested a postponement of the meeting, citing that its leaders were too busy to meet with him, according to a diplomat familiar with the situation.

The delay in the meeting has been linked to the potential organization of a visit from Putin to Vietnam, with concerns that the EU envoy’s visit could disrupt the plans. Vietnamese leaders have extended multiple invitations to Putin in recent months, with reports indicating that the Russian president has accepted the invitation and a visit date will be decided after his upcoming inauguration for a fifth term on May 7.

Putin’s last visit to Vietnam was in 2017, and the country maintains a significant relationship with Russia, particularly in the areas of defense and energy. The EU has imposed extensive sanctions on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine, and O’Sullivan’s role involves ensuring that countries do not assist Russia in circumventing these punitive measures.

While there is no evidence of Vietnam providing support to Russia for its military operations in Ukraine, some diplomats have raised concerns about the difficulty of detecting potential trade violations between Vietnam and Russia, especially involving sensitive components like chips.

As the situation continues to unfold, all eyes are on Vietnam as it navigates its diplomatic relationships amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.