Putin expects Russia-EU summit to result in specific agreements

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the Russia-EU summit will finally result in signing specific agreements. Speaking at the forum, the Russian president pointed out the areas in which agreements can be achieved. They include security and defence co-operation, recognising the market status of the Russian economy. Besides, according to the head of state, "a real negotiating process should be launched on complex solution to some problems related to life support system of the Kaliningrad region /Russia's enclave on the Baltic Sea/ in view of the EU's expansion.

Putin remarked that given the substantial headway in relations between Russia and the United States, Russia and NATO, today's Russia-EU summit is faced with a principled new task of boosting Russia-EU strategic partnership.

As the president put it, the summiteers will have to confirm the importance of their partnership as a basis for both European and international system of interstate relations." Having remarked that specific issues of practical co-operation in the political, trade and economic and social areas are usually discussed at such meetings, Putin said regretfully that numerous problems were already long-standing. He stressed that this deadlock needs to be broken, otherwise the meeting in this format can turn into some discussion club."