Poetin wil een relatie met Europa op basis van vertrouwen in plaats van wantrouwen (en)

Two days before an EU-Russia summit, Russian president Vladimir Putin has warned Europe against creating "fresh divisions" by raising suspicion against Moscow rather than treating it as a strategic partner.

In a comment published in the Financial Times on Wednesday (22 November), Mr Putin highlighted areas where Russia and the EU co-operate - such as in industry, security and foreign policy - stressing that his country "is a natural member of the 'European family' in spirit, history and culture."

He pointed out that the future relationship between the two "depends largely on changes in the EU," adding that Russia hopes that the bloc's expansion and institutional changes will not "erode" its basic principles - like "ensuring equal rights to all EU people irrespective of country of origin, nationality and religion."

This was an apparent reference to the situation of ethnic Russians in Estonia and Latvia, the ex-Soviet Baltic countries that joined the EU in 2004, with Moscow repeatedly criticising them for discriminating against these minority groups.

Mr Putin's remarks come as the bilateral summit on Friday threatens to be derailed by arguments concerning Moscow's continued blocking of Polish meat imports. Warsaw has stopped further agreement on a new partnership deal with Russia - the current one expires next year - in a bid to get the meat blockade issue sorted out.

The Russian leader expressed a wish for progress in negotiations to replace the current accord between EU and Russia in 2007.

The new agreement would cover issues such as trade, energy, human rights and visa regimes.

Mr Putin also played down fears about EU over-dependence on Russia for energy, suggesting "Those who warn of the danger of Europe becoming dependent on Russia see Russia-EU relations in black and white and try to fit them into the obsolete mould of 'friend or foe'."

"Such stereotypes have little in common with reality, but their persistent influence on political thinking and practice runs the risk of creating fresh divisions in Europe."

"The past must not be used to divide us, because we cannot rewrite history," concluded Mr Putin, adding he hopes "a constructive approach will also prevail in the EU."