UPDATE 2: Official: Russia's exports to EU double in January–March

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ST.PETERSBURG, Jun 15 (PRIME) -- Russia's exports to the E.U. more than doubled in January–March because the fuel prices increased, envoy to the E.U. Vladimir Chizhov told channel Rossiya 24 on Wednesday.

"Even after six packages of sanctions, Europe, as strange as this sounds, remains our largest trade and economic partner in the current conditions,” he said.

“Our exports to the E.U. more than doubled in the first quarter to the big dissatisfaction of our former partners in the E.U. And beyond," Chizhov said. "How did the oil and gas prices rise? Russia is the largest fuel supplier to the E.U. The volume did not increase much, but the prices did thanks to their own policies."

The official separately said that discussion of the seventh package of sanctions on Russia would be premature, because further sanctions can target only gas, to which Europe is not ready. He said that if adopted, the package would be a strategic mistake. The results of U.S. plans to curb Russia's oil revenue are yet to be seen.

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