NICOSIA, February 24. /TASS/. Cyprus hopes for the soonest restoration of strategic relations between Russia and the European Union, a spokesman for the country's government said on Tuesday.

Cyprus has always supported a productive dialogue with the Russian Federation and a constructive cooperation in mediation efforts to deescalate the Ukrainian crisis," Nikos Christodoulides told TASS ahead of a visit to Moscow by Cyprus’s President Nicos Anastasiades.

The spokesman also said that Cyprus questions "the efficiency of sanctions as a political mechanism" and expressed hope that Russia-EU relations would soon be restored to the level of strategic partnership.