The leaders of its member countries The European Union will consider today whether and to what extent they will organize a meeting with its president Russia, Vladimir Putin, in the context of the new strategy they are shaping towards Moscow, as bilateral relations are in a “negative vortex”, as they put it in Brussels. France and Germany suggested meeting with Putin on Wednesday, as it could be a way to begin a process of restoring bilateral relations between the two trading partners, as emerged from the US-Russia summit. in Geneva on the initiative of US President Joe Biden, reports APE.
In the face of various issues, including the conflict in Ukraine or the crisis in Belarus, amid human rights disputes, the EU and Russia have been accused of meddling in electoral processes, spreading misinformation, threatening security and stability in the Baltic states. the Black Sea. “We can not isolate Russia, because Russia is a reality from which none of us can escape,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, who will be in Brussels but will not attend the summit.
“We must motivate Moscow to stop its aggression,” he said, adding that he supported Brussels’ efforts to take a new approach. After Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and the EU froze meetings with Vladimir Putin, European policy seems to be zigzagging: from imposing economic sanctions to allowing the submarine project to be completed. gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.
However, efforts to resolve the conflict between pro-Russian separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine have reached a stalemate, despite the ceasefires and peace agreements signed. An indication of how tense the situation in Russia-West relations is: the Russian Ministry of Defense announced yesterday that a warship opened fire on it and an aircraft dropped bombs to stop a British destroyer off the coast of Crimea; now an EU member state, refuted the Russian version of events.
New strategy in the triptych “repulsion, restraint, dialogue”
The summit, which will also address the new coronavirus pandemic and relations with Turkey, will be based on a strategy paper on Russia drafted earlier this month by the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS). . The text emphasizes that the relations have entered a “negative vortex” and that “their further downward course” is threatened. Based on this text, EU leaders are expected today and tomorrow to look for ways to both denounce covert Russian actions and secure Moscow’s cooperation in areas such as preventing climate change.
The text proposes that the new strategy be based on the triptych “repulsion, restraint, dialogue”. “Understanding comes from a conflict of ideas,” said a senior European diplomat who is in favor of the new strategy, although many doubt that there can suddenly be more confidence in the EU-Russia relationship.
French President Emmanuel Macron had already tried in September 2019 to break the ice in his relationship with Vladimir Putin – without success. Some European diplomats believe that relations should be improved before a decision can be made to hold a meeting with the Russian president. Potential outbreaks of new tensions continue to abound. Today or tomorrow, the EU will release details of economic sanctions against Belarus, an ally of Russia, which the Kremlin treats as roughly a neutral zone between Russian territory and that of NATO member states.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
