German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the EU needs to start trading with Russia again.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The European Union needs to restore trade relations with Russia, German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Friday.

Gabriel said in an interview with Focus magazine:

“Europe will have to regain Russia as a trade partner.”

The minister added that the restoration of ties is almost unimaginable in the context of the strained Russia-EU relations over the Ukraine crisis. However, Gabriel said that even in the “darkest” times of the Cold War German Chancellor Willy Brandt called for easing tensions.

“Europe must not leave Russia. Free trade is far more than a tool of economic policy."

The European Union, alongside the United States, Canada and other countries imposed several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia over Moscow’s alleged meddling in the Ukraine conflict. In response, Russia issued a food import ban on countries that had sanctioned it.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to Ukraine's internal conflict and stressed its interest in resolving the crisis.