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Russia working on reviving cooperation with EU in all spheres — ambassador

At the expert level, contacts are in progress in many areas, the ambassador says

© Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

BRUSSELS, January 25. /TASS/. Russia is working to revive cooperation with the EU in all areas, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, told reporters on Wednesday.

"We are working to revive our cooperation in all spheres," he said. "At the expert level, contacts are in progress in many areas. As for contacts at the political level, we are ready to the extent the European Union itself is."

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"As for contacts at the political level, we are ready to the extent the European Union itself is," the diplomat said. "It is clear that the EU is going through difficult times due to internal problems, including Brexit and the migrant crisis. They will also have to establish cooperation with the new US administration somehow."

"We do realize that from a professional point of view, and we do not press them for an answer," Chizhov said, adding that this applies to the dialogue on sanctions as well. "We are not conducting any negotiations and, the more so, are not trying to persuade them as far as sanctions are concerned," he emphasized. "As soon as they are ready to take the relevant political decisions, they will know how to find us."

In 2014, the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia over developments in Ukraine and Crimea’s reunification with Russia repeatedly extending them. Talks on visa-free travel and a new framework agreement on cooperation have been suspended, a ban on entry to the EU for Russian officials has been imposed and their assets frozen. Restrictive measures in trade, financial and military spheres have been imposed as well. Over 150 individuals and several dozen legal entities have been placed on the sanctions lists. Sectoral sanctions against various Russian financial, oil producing and defense companies are in effect.

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