On Wednesday 3 May, Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, said in Brussels that Moscow would like a "more pragmatic, more result-oriented relationship with the European Union, with fewer slogans and more substance" in a multipolar world in which it wants "the EU to be a major player both in economy and politically". He also said that he does not expect Brexit to be damaging either to the EU, or to the UK, or to third countries linked to the EU by a strategic partnership.