Moscow is ready to work with European companies on cargo transport along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), provided they are interested in cooperating with the Russian side, said Alexey Likhachev, head of the state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
According to him, Russia will continue to enhance the competitiveness and appeal of the NSR as an international trade corridor.
"And, of course, we are ready to work with European companies in this regard - provided, naturally, that they view this as an opportunity for cooperation and development, rather than confrontation," Likhachev said.
The European Union has adopted a new Arctic strategy, which addresses issues related to security, the economy, and climate change. The document indicates, among other things, that Brussels plans to expand its icebreaker fleet and deepen cooperation with NATO in the region.
Meanwhile, in comments to The Times, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the European Union must prevent Russia and China from establishing "dominance" in the Arctic and block them from gaining control over the new maritime route through the region.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
