"The EU and Russia are interdependent … We will therefore engage Russia to discuss disagreements and co-operate if and when our interests overlap," the strategy reads, as cited by The Financial Times newspaper.
The move is a sign of a gradual process of reconciliation between the European Union and Russia, which may be accelerated by the United Kingdom’s recent decision to leave the bloc, the paper concluded.
According to the daily, the strategy also calls for the establishment of multinational headquarters, military procurement and new deployments, as well as other measures to intensify the bloc’s cooperation on defense. The draft, if adopted, will boost to the bloc’s defense industry, the newspaper added.
Since 2014, relations between Russia and the European Union have soured amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since Crimea became part of Russia in 2014 and the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability.
