Martin Schulz, the current President of the European parliament and candidate in the upcoming elections, accused Russia of violating international law when it annexed Crimea.

In a statement given to Euronews earlier today, Mr. Schulz called on European leaders to rethink the common EU Neighborhood Policy, as well as their relations with the Russian Federation. According to the PES-PSE candidate, an alteration of borders in post-Cold War Europe is unacceptable.

In response, Alexis Tsipras, the Greek candidate of the European Left Party (GUE/NGL) and Greek opposition leader expressed his deep concern about the situation in Ukraine, and criticized the EU’s cold war-like policies.

In a statement to Euronews, Mr. Tsipras criticized the stance taken by current President of the European Parliament, calling Mr. Shulz’s judgments “irresponsible.”

Mr. Tsipras, who has repeatedly declared his commitment to international law, stressed that the only viable path in this case is one of peaceful negotiation and cooperation; hostile rhetoric and mutual threats pose a serious risk to Europe’s future. Drawing parallels to the painful consequences of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus and the events in Yugoslavia in early ‘90s, Mr. Tsipras offered a stern reminder regarding how catastrophic results may be when force, rather than diplomacy is used.

Noting the participation of far-right extremists and neo-Nazis in the newly formed Ukrainian “government,” Mr. Tsipras recalled the sanctions that were imposed in Austria, when Jörg Haider took part in the government.

Mr. Tsipras concluded by calling on Mr. Schulz to avoid Cold War rhetoric and focus instead on post-war social-democratic values that emphasize political dialogue and peaceful relationships among the nation-states. In this respect, Mr. Tsipras criticized Mr. Schulz for favoring Chancellor Merkel’s political approach rather continuing in the SPD tradition of Willy Brandt.