DISINFO: Moscow-EU ties deplorable due to anti-Russian policy
SUMMARY
Relations between Russia and the European Union are in a deplorable state and bilateral contacts have been minimised due to Brussels’ policy of constraint towards Moscow.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets, blaming the European Union for the deterioration in its bilateral relations with Russia. In reality, the EU and its member states strive for dialogue with Russia to settle the existing problems and misunderstandings, while Moscow does not seem to be inclined to open discussion.
Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the ensuing war in Donbas are some of the main reasons behind the deterioration in the EU-Russia relations. Ukraine and its foreign partners have been expecting Russia to pressure its proxies in Donbas into implementing a ceasefire that was announced in July 2020. However, the Donbas separatists have been violating it virtually every day and Russia has done nothing to stop them.
In terms of Russia’s occupation of Crimea, the United Nations issued a resolution on 27 March 2014, which backed Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The European Union does not recognise the annexation and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law. In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation.
Human rights abuses are another hot issue. Russia is criticised for its low record. Violations and abuse have become common since 2019 when the Kremlin launched a massive crack-down campaign on the opposition. One such case is that of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned in Russia in August 2020. He was flown to Germany for treatment, where he stayed till January 2021 and was immediately detained after his return to Moscow. Navalny was later convicted and sentenced to 3.5 years behind bars. Many consider this case political, although Russia claims that this is a common criminal case.
Besides the Navalny case, other high-profile poisonings are also a burning problem in relations between Moscow and the West. Russia is the prime suspect in poisoning Aleksander Litvinenko and the Skripals. Despite conclusive evidence of Russia’s complicity in these cases, Moscow bluntly denies everything without the slightest attempt at dialogue.
The European Union is sincere in its attempts to clarify all matters of discord in relations with Russia. Brussels is expecting Moscow to take a constructive attitude and find common ground, which would greatly facilitate bilateral cooperation. Due to Russia’s apparent unwillingness to solve problems in a positive manner, the EU had to adopt a policy based on pushing back, constraining and engaging with Moscow simultaneously. This policy is not levelled against Russia, it is rather aimed at searching for ways to build cooperation with Moscow on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
Read more disinformation narratives alleging that the West is hostile to Moscow.