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Russia hopes for better ties with London under new UK PM — ambassador

Russia is interested in establishing friendly relations with London
Russia’s Ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS
Russia’s Ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko
© Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS

MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. The upcoming changes in the United Kingdom’s leadership may improve London’s relations with Moscow and Russia is interested in this, Russia’s Ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko told reporters on Thursday.

"We consider that the new UK leadership may create an additional window of opportunities. We will try to use this," Yakovenko stressed.

The current relations between Moscow and London are "very uneasy, the political dialogue has been almost paralyzed," the diplomat said.

Russia is "interested in establishing friendly relations" with London, he said, adding: "We will make every effort to smooth our relations with the UK."

UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced plans to step down after supporters of the European integration lost the June 23 referendum that brought victory to the ‘leave’ camp. The name of the new prime minister is expected to be announced in September.

Moscow never interfered in the UK domestic affairs

The ambassador went on to say that unlike the United States, Moscow has never interfered in the UK domestic affairs.

"I think that no one believes in these fairy tales about the Russian trace and Russia’s interference. Moreover that we have and had an opportunity to explain this in a rather clear way," Yakovenko said.

Russia’s stance towards the UK is "very honest," the ambassador said. "This is the affair of the British people themselves, we respect this choice," he stressed.