Europeans Want Good Relations With Russia, Elites Conspire Against Thaw

The majority of Europeans want to have good relations with Russia while mainstream media and elites are conspiring against it, member of the Russian parliament's upper house Alexei Pushkov told Sputnik Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — He added that everyone was tired of Russophobia, which becomes obvious if one is looking through the social media instead of Le Monde.

"I believe that the majority of Europeans root for good relations with Russia while the media and some political elites are playing a political game against Russia," Pushkov said.

Since 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Washington and their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since Crimea became part of Russia in 2014 and over Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability.