Russia willing to cooperate with EU, but may reconsider relations: Russian lawmaker

New Delhi: Russia is seeking to maintain relations with the European Union, which is one of its largest commercial and economic partners, but might drastically revise these relations, Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council (the upper house of Russia’s parliament), said on Friday.

“I think that as long as it depends on our country, the issue of a breakup with the European Union will not be translated into practice. We are certainly interested in preserving these relations. For us, it is one of the biggest trade and economic partners, if not the biggest one. There is nothing insurmountable in our relations with the European Union,” the senator said on the radio station.

In Kosachev’s view, when speaking earlier about the possibility of severing relations with the European Union, he commented on the EU steps against Russia, “which have very closely approached the red line.”

In particular, his comment was triggered by the European Commission’s statement claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to switch to ruble payments for gas ran counter to the EU sanctions.

“In other words, it was said that when making his decisions, the Russian president needs to take into consideration certain decisions of the European Union. This is the wrong way to put it. It is rude and unceremonious,” Kosachev said.

(Vinayak)