The European Union should maintain sanctions on Russia and diversify its energy supplies as Moscow uses energy for blackmail, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said in an exclusive interview with Euronews.

During a discussion on the margins of the European People's Party congress in Valencia, Stocker, who leads a three-party coalition, said the EU needs to distinguish between Russia and Putin and prepare for a future when President Vladimir Putin is no longer in power. 

“Russia is not only Putin,” Stocker said. - Dealing with Putin is extremely difficult, but Russia will still exist when he is no longer in power. At the moment we see Russia as a threat, including Austria, because of its destabilizing actions and disinformation campaigns against Western democracies. At the moment, Russia is not our partner. But it won't always be that way - leaders don't stay in power forever.” 

Stocker added that it is too early to talk about easing economic sanctions on Russia, as there is currently no possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine. He believes that any peace agreement must be on Ukraine's terms.