The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed its readiness to sever relations with the European Union in the event of a corresponding initiative from Brussels. Thus, the department commented on the words of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergei Lavrov, who had previously voiced a similar position, RIA Novosti reports.
“We are ready for a rupture if it is initiated by the EU … For our part, we strongly urge the EU members to equal and mutually respectful cooperation, as Sergei Lavrov said,” the ministry said.
In turn, the official representative of the Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova stressed that the state of relations between Moscow and Brussels is definitely not a consequence of Russia's choice. According to her, Moscow has repeatedly called on EU representatives to cooperate at all levels, including for solving world problems. “But unfortunately, we hear very aggressive rhetoric,” she said.
Earlier, in an interview with journalist Vladimir Solovyov, Lavrov said that Moscow is ready to break off relations with the EU if Brussels imposes sanctions on sensitive sectors of the Russian economy. The minister stressed that Russia does not want to isolate itself from the rest of the world, but should not rule out such a development of events.
In Germany, such a statement by the Russian minister was considered “strange and incomprehensible.” The Kremlin, however, said that the meaning of the words of the foreign minister was distorted and that Russia would not initiate a break in relations with the European Union.
