EU, Russia should look for ways to restore relationship - Putin
YEREVAN. April 24 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the European Union to take steps to restore its relationship with Russia.
"Regrettably, our relationship has substantially deteriorated recently. Trade dropped. This is certainly regretful," he said at a meeting with French President Francois Hollande.
"It seems to me, we must look for ways to restore our relationship," Putin said.
He said he was glad of the opportunity to discuss both Russia's bilateral relations with France and with the EU as a whole with Hollande, although the meeting is "taking place on the sidelines of the mournful events."
Putin concurred with Hollande by saying that the need is ripe "to talk about bilateral relations and the development of our relationship with the EU as a whole."
"Regrettably, these relations are not at their best," the Russian leader said.
"It seems to me we must look for ways to restore our relations," he said.