Have the article read by OpenAI (Beta). Please note that AI translations may take some time to process.Moscow (dpa) – The Russian capital Moscow changed the name of its Europe Square on Wednesday out of apparent anger at the European Union’s support for Ukraine.
The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, issued a decree renaming the site in the city centre Eurasia Square, referring to the entire landmasses of Europe and Asia.
No reason was given for the decision, but it is seen as another sign of Russia’s turning away from Europe as a result of Moscow’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and its increasing focus on Asia.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has provided financial and political support to the country. Ukraine is also currently in accession talks with the bloc. It was granted EU candidate status in June 2022.
Moscow says the EU is pursuing an aggressive and anti-Russian policy, an accusation repeated by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to journalists on Wednesday.
Europe Square was opened more than 20 years ago as a Russian-Belgian project, and was intended to symbolise the “unity of the European states.” For a long time, the flags of European countries flew on a large monument in the square, but they were taken down last year. (24 July)
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