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Russia needs EU as strong partner — Dvorkovich

"If Europe is not going to become weaker because of the Brexit, then we are ok with that," the deputy prime minister said
Arkady Dvorkovich Valery Sharifulin/TASS
Arkady Dvorkovich
© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

NEW YORK, June 17. /TASS/. Moscow wants the EU to remain a strong partner for Russia and expects that the UK’s possible exit from the European Union will not result in its weakening, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said on Thursday in an interview with Bloomberg.

Asked about Moscow’s stance on the UK’s possible exit from the EU, Dvorkovich said: "Russia cares about Europe, we need a strong partner, and Europe is our key partner in the world. Weak partners are not usually good partners, not safe partners, therefore we need Europe to remain strong."

"If Europe is not going to become weaker because of the Brexit, then we are ok with that," the deputy prime minister said. He said that Russia would not favor a weaker Europe and possible economic development problems it may have because of this. "However, I would like to reiterate that it is the sovereign right of the people who live in the UK, and nobody should intervene with that," Dvorkovich said.