EU international locations’ diplomats and EU officers boycotted a farewell reception for Russia’s ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, in Brussels on Thursday, the Euractiv information company reported. Chizhov, who’s leaving after 17 years within the submit, stated he felt “sorrow and a little bit of frustration” on the dire state of relations. “However I go away with a transparent conscience,” he added, regardless of having defended Russia’s brutal struggle on Ukraine.