Russia is not going to refuse from cooperation with the EU, But the old relations will not be, said the head of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S. Lavrov..

" The European Union is our biggest partner of the collective. No one is going to shoot yourself in the foot, to refuse cooperation with Europe, although we all understand that business as usual is no longer possible, " said the Russian Minister, speaking on the first day of the weekend in the capital of Russia on Assembly of the Council on foreign and defense policy.

" But I am convinced that we will overcome the current period and lessons will be extracted and will be the new basis for our relations ", - noticed Lavrov.

Relations between Russia and the West deteriorated in connection with the situation in Ukraine.


The US and EU do not recognize the annexation of Crimea to Russia and accuse Moscow of interfering in Ukraine. Russia denies it and calls the accusations are unacceptable. Western countries since March has repeatedly imposed punishment on a number of Russian politicians, businessmen and organizations and threatened to make wider restrictive measures. The last case of the use of such practices began in September punishment.

A complete list of Russian Citizens and organizations who are under punishment, -

sections: Politics