Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has said Moscow wants a “united and prosperous” EU ahead of talks in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
Mr Putin will meet with Austria’s president Alexander van der Bellen on Tuesday as well as Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in his first visit to a western European nation since his re-election as Russian premier earlier this year.
Russia’s relationship with the EU is at its lowest point following the country’s involvement in Ukraine and the war in Syria as well as the poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter in Britain.
However, Mr Putin told Austria's ORF station the Kremlin wanted to see 28-member bloc united as Russia’s most important commercial and economic partner.
"The more problems there are in the EU, the bigger our risks and uncertainties," Mr Putin told the broadcaster.
"We need to build cooperation with the EU," he added. "We do not aim to divide the EU."
Most EU member states expelled Russian diplomats after Britain accused the Kremlin of being involved in the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury in March.
But Austria, which has traditionally maintained ties with Russia and formerly the Soviet Union, was one of few countries that chose not to make expulsions.
Mr Putin told ORF that Austria had remained Russia’s "trusted partner in Europe” and that the two countries had always had “very good and close relations”.
The Russian president has supporters in the far-right Freedom party, a junior partner in the Austrian coalition government. The Freedom Party’s leader Heinz Christian Stache has called for EU sanctions against Russia to be lifted.
The talks are expected to discuss the issue of the sanctions, which were levied in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea as well as its involvement in the political instability in Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of Mr Putin’s visit, Chancellor Kurz said Austria would "decide pragmatically whether to co-operate with someone politically".
"We try to work with those who publicly express the wish themselves to work with us," he added.
The visit is also significant because it marks 50 years this month since Austria became the first western European nation to sign a natural gas deal with the Soviet Union.
Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34
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'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
if you go
The flights
Emirates fly direct from Dubai to Houston, Texas, where United have direct flights to Managua. Alternatively, from October, Iberia will offer connections from Madrid, which can be reached by both Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Emirates from Dubai.
The trip
Geodyssey’s (Geodyssey.co.uk) 15-night Nicaragua Odyssey visits the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, lively country villages, the lake island of Ometepe and a stunning array of landscapes, with wildlife, history, creative crafts and more. From Dh18,500 per person, based on two sharing, including transfers and tours but excluding international flights. For more information, visit visitnicaragua.us.
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
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