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EU remains unreliable partner for Russia for now — Lavrov

Moscow hopes that Brussels will pay attention to its vital interests in the end, Russia's top diplomat said
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/TASS
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
© Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/TASS

MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. The European Union at this stage cannot be considered a reliable partner for Russia, but Moscow hopes that Brussels will pay attention to its vital interests in the end, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference Friday following talks with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

Commenting on possible sanctions of Western countries over the Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny case, Lavrov acknowledged that Moscow had already got used to unilateral sanctions from the EU that have no legitimate grounds. "Therefore, we organize our life coming from the premise that the EU is not a reliable partner, at least at this stage," the minister stressed.

According to him, the principle of solidarity between the EU members resulted in their unified position on the Navalny case. "However, I am certain that most politicians in Europe realize the absurdity of this approach," the minister noted. "Roman law states that the onus of proof is on the accuser. We ask exactly for that, nothing else."

"I hope that the strategic review which is coming will finally pay attention to vital interests of the European Union in its closest vicinity," Lavrov stressed. "I hope that today’s talks will help us reach a more constructive trajectory. We are ready for it."