Brexit Must Be Used as Starting Point to Remove Anti-Russian Sanctions

The European Union should use the situation with the UK's exit from the bloc as a starting point for removal of sanctions against Russia, Austrian Agriculture Minister Andra Rupprechter said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the minister, the revival of normal economic relations with Russia is vital for stabilization of EU markets.

"There is a new situation [in Europe] over UK's referendum of EU membership. The Brits have always been representatives of a very strict line, sort of pro-US line towards Russia. We should take advantage of the new situation as a starting point.. to overcome the anti-Russian sanctions," Rupprechter told the Kurier newspaper in an interview published Sunday.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia over Crimea's secession from Ukraine and Moscow's alleged meddling in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly refuted the accusations, and warned that the sanctions are counterproductive and undermine regional and global stability.

On June 23, the United Kingdom held a referendum to determine whether or not the country should leave the European Union. According to the final results, 51.9 percent of voters, or 17.4 million people, decided to support Brexit, while about 16.1 million opposed it.