Russia and EU vis-a-vis the Post-Soviet Space

The article analyses the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on the relations between the European Union and Russia. The purpose of this paper is to define the conceptual obstacles to the cooperation between Brussels and Moscow in the post­Soviet countries on the case of Ukraine. Decisions taken by Brussels, Kiev and Moscow during the events of late­2013 and the first half of 2014 are the basis for analysing the impulses contributing to dialogue or making such cooperation impossible. The article also contains an analysis of the Russian expert community’s approaches towards the political processes in Ukraine. It allows one to draw conclusions about the mutual approaches of the EU and Russia, as well as to identify differences and their political consequences. The main problems in the relationship between both sides arise from misperception and mistrust: the lack of understanding on common issues and respect for the interests of each other. Brussels and Moscow, in relationto the post­Soviet countries, stand as polar opposite models of integrational Centres, which is whatcauses the competition between them. The article presents the basic differences between Moscow and Brussels in attracting new countries to their integration models. The different cooperative goals between them prevent the two from furthering their bilateral relations. The actions of both sides reveal a lack of strategy in their policy planning, which gives grounds to assessing that bilateral relations between the EU and Russia are inertial. At the same time, the mutual dependence on cooperation between them, as well as an understanding of the need for a stable relationship for the internal development of each, does not allow either side to move closer towards confrontation.

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