Following the eighteenth Russia-European Union summit, President Vladimir Putin expressed his regret that it had not been possible to announce the start of negotiations on drafting a new basic agreement between Russia and the EU. Mr Putin noted that the European Union has not yet reached a common position on this issue.
Russia, for its part, reiterates its readiness to begin talks, Mr Putin said, adding that a delay in the start of negotiations would not in any case have a negative impact on overall relations with the EU. Relations between Russia and the EU are based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which can be extended annually.
No legal vacuum in relations between the two sides will arise as a result of a delayed start to talks on the new agreement. Russia will be patient and wait for the European Union to agree on a common position and is ready to do its part to help reach this objective, Mr Putin said.