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Russia's position on Brexit depends on how it affects EU: deputy PM

Xinhua, June 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russia's position on the possible exit of Britain from the European Union (EU) depends on whether it will weaken the EU or not, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said.

"We need a strong partner, and Europe is our key partner in the world," Dvorkovich said in an interview with TV network Bloomberg aired on Friday.

If Brexit will weaken the EU, then Russia is "not in favor of it," he said. "Weak partners are not usually good partners, not safe partners.Therefore, Russia needs Europe to remain strong."

However, it is a choice eventually up to the British people and nobody should intervene, added the deputy prime minister.

Dvorkovich also said that Russian's position on Brexit has nothing to do with the sanctions imposed on Russia by Western powers led by the United States.

The sanctions are counterproductive for everyone. The sooner the sanctions are revoked, the better it is for both Russia and the Western economies, he said. Endi