MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Zidan arrived in Moscow on Monday for a two-day visit, heading an economic delegation and accompanied by representatives of scientific institutions. The purpose of the trip is a further acceleration and expansion of economic and other types of cooperation with Russia in the field of agriculture, forestry and nutrition. The visit is also meant to make final preparation for the visit of Slovenian President Borut Pahor to Russia in February.
“I really hope that actually everything that divides us, all those sanctions introduced on both sides, that all this in some reasonable way will come to naught and we will begin again to live in those uniting us, common for us topics like it was before,” Zidan said.
According to the deputy prime minister, the European Union and Russia are "natural partners."
Since 2014, relations between Russia and the West, including Slovenia, deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies introduced several rounds of sanctions against Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability. In response to the restrictive measures, Russia has imposed a food embargo on some products originating in countries that have targeted it with sanctions.
