Russia asks EU to dispense with visa requirements

RUSSIA will press the European Union to scrap visas for its citizens and seek the EU’s help in modernising its economy at a two-day summit beginning today.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is hosting top EU officials for talks in the southern city of Rostov- on-Don. The European Union is Russia’s No 1 trading partner, and EU nations account for 80% of all investment in Russia.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko urged European leaders to show political will and scrap entry visas for Russians.