Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country and the European Union do not have problems that cannot be solved.
To get back to a multifaceted partnership, the approach of unilateralism should be abandoned and there should be true respect for each other, according to an article of Putin, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.
Putin expressed Russia's willingness to discuss a range of issues including visa liberalisation and buildup of energy alliance with the EU. But he said the willingness of the EU side cannot be seen.
"Now Russia and the EU have come to a fork, where you must answer questions of how we see the future of our relations and in which direction we are going," said the article which is available on Putin's official website.
Since 2014, the US, the EU and some of their allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia for the country's role in the Ukraine crisis.
Russia has retaliated with a food embargo on some countries.
The EU has to decide whether to extend the latest round of punitive measures against Russia that expire on July 31.
--IANS
pgh/dg
