DISINFO: Degradation of EU-Russia relations becomes chronic due to a series of unilateral measures from Brussels
SUMMARY
As for the ties between Moscow and Brussels, the degradation of relations between Russia and the EU becomes chronic. The last seven years have been a period of missed opportunities. Confidence has been undermined too much by a series of unilateral measures coming from Brussels.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative attempting to put the responsibility for the state of EU-Russia relations on Brussels, blaming the European Union for the deterioration in bilateral relations with Russia. In reality, the EU and its member states strive for dialogue with Russia to settle the existing problems and misunderstandings.
The current state of EU-Russia relations stems primarily from Moscow's actions, beginning in 2014 with the illegal annexation of Crimea and the waging of an undeclared, albeit well-documented, war in Ukraine's Donbas region.
The EU has imposed restrictive measures, including sectoral sanctions, as a result of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Russia's destabilising actions in Eastern Ukraine. Formats such as regular high-level dialogues remain suspended in the absence of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements by Russia. As a result, some of the policy dialogues and mechanisms of cooperation are temporarily frozen, and sanctions directed at promoting a change in Russia's actions in Ukraine have been adopted.
Nevertheless, Russia remains a natural partner for the EU and a strategic player combating the regional and global challenges. The EU’s approach to Russia is guided by five principles agreed in 2016 and reaffirmed, most recently, in June 2021. Read more about the recently proposed way forward in EU-Russia relations here.
Read here further debunking by POLYGRAPH.info. See also similar cases with statements that the EU destroyed relations with Russia, that the EU is doing everything to make Russia move away from it, that Russia-EU relations were destroyed by unilateral decisions of Brussels.