Vladimir Putin considers EU important neighbor, key economic partner

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow regards the European Union as an important neighbor and key economic partner, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

“We consider the European Union an important neighbor and key economic partner … We reaffirm the importance of establishing sustainable contacts between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, including in the interests of creating a common economic and humanitarian space from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean in future,”

Putin said.

The Russian leader noted that the trade turnover between Russia and the European Union had decreased twofold over the past three years, adding that the European Union still accounted for nearly half of Russia’s foreign trade volume.

Putin made his statement during the ceremony of presenting credentials by the new ambassadors to Russia from 20 countries including Jon Huntsman from the United States.

Huntsman’s appointment for the position was approved by the US parliamentarians last week.