EU's Juncker defends attendance at Russia forum, says talks vital

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker attends a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2016 (SPIEF 2016) in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 16, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker defended his decision to attend an economic forum in Russia on Thursday by saying it was common sense to talk to Moscow despite lingering tensions over the Ukraine crisis.

His presence at the annual gathering in St Petersburg, the most high-profile event staged by the Kremlin to attract foreign investment, is the latest signs of a thaw in EU-Russian relations despite difficulties in implementing a peace deal in Ukraine.