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Putin called for a “fair dialogue” between Russia and Europe to improve tense relations. This was the first time since 2009 that Putin participated in the World Economic Forum.
“We need to get rid of the phobias of the past” and look to the future instead and start a “positive phase in our relationship,” Putin said. Russia is said to be interested. “I am sure that European countries are also interested in this,” he continued.
“We are ready, we want it,” Putin said.
Vladimir Putin
Itar-Tass / Scanpix
“If we forget the old problems, we would expect a more positive phase of the relationship,” Putin said.
But, he said, “love is impossible if one of the parties talks about it. It must be reciprocal. “
Russia and the EU have very different positions, for example on the conflict in Ukraine and the war in Syria. Putin made no concrete proposals on how to achieve better relations.
Russia-West relations are currently strained mainly by the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navaln and his imprisonment in Moscow more than a week ago. A chain of European politicians demanded the immediate release of the opposition leader and his followers. Russia, meanwhile, urges not to interfere in internal affairs.
Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in many Russian cities demanding Navalna’s release.
The opposition team calls for European sanctions against Putin’s environment. The EU is already imposing sanctions on Moscow for the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Furthermore, trust between Russia and the West is overshadowed by a number of other incidents.
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