OREANDA-NEWS  There was a split within the European Union (EU) due to disagreements among the member states of the association regarding the presence at the inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is reported by Spiegel, citing sources.

France, Hungary and Slovakia want to send their representatives to the ceremony in order to maintain channels of communication with Russia, several EU diplomats told the publication on condition of anonymity.

Other states, including Germany, are skeptical and are not going to attend the ceremony. "Germany will not take part in this event," a German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

Earlier it was reported that France plans to send its ambassador to Moscow, Pierre Levy, to the inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The official representative of the European Union's foreign policy service, Peter Stano, said that the EU ambassador to Russia would not attend the inauguration of the Russian leader.