Putin pushes for end to `harmful` sanctions during Austria visit
(The Guardian Russia)

Russian president evaded MH17 questions during first visit to EU country since re-electionVladimir Putin lobbied for the phasing-out of economic sanctions and dodged questions about the shooting down of MH17 during his first state visit to an EU member state since being re-elected as Russian president in March.`Both those who initiate these actions and those such measures that we call sanctions are aimed against find them harmful,` Putin said in Vienna on Tuesday, claiming that European countries were merely `finding it hard to say so`. Related: MH17 downed by Russian military missile system, say investigators Related: Sergei Skripal scandal has sent UK-Russia relations tumbling. What next? Related: UK sanctions against Russia: what impact will they have? Continue reading...