The Kremlin is hopeful that the UK's decision to leave the EU will mean better relations between London and Moscow, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced Friday.
“We hope that under these new circumstances, positive relations with our two countries will prevail,” Peskov said.
“Russia’s relations with Britain are historically very rich but are currently faced with difficulties,” he said. “We find that our British partners are not always willing to communicate and cooperate.”
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Conference on Friday, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that the result of the British referendum would be signficant. “Of course, the referendum is an internal matter for the British people,” he said. “It is clear however, that the result is significant not just for Britain and the EU, but because it will affect the world economy. We will have to analyze the consequences of Brexit and make necessary adjustments to the Russian economy.”
While British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond announced that “Putin will be feeling less pressure this morning,” Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov refused to comment. He told reporters that he “didn’t comment on such matters,” the Interfax news agency quoted.
Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev predicted that the EU will now be forced into internal reforms. “The EU in its current form has stopped working both for its members and for its partners. This will surely lead to reform within the EU which, hopefully, will result in more constructive bilateral relations,” he said.
A number of commentators have suggested that Russia would welcome a Brexit vote, hoping that it would lead to a weakening in sanctions against the country, greater financial opportunities in the UK for the Russian elite, and a freer role for Russia in the Syria conflict.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
