Borrell’s visit to Moscow: the margins of the meeting are crucial questions

“The bottom line is that the Navalno issue is being widely discussed in the media. The EU and the US have demanded his release. On the other hand, let’s not forget the broader context. Borrell traveled to Moscow to discuss EU-relations. Russia as a whole, in preparation for the EU summit in March, which will discuss strategic issues between the EU and Russia. As for its agenda, it deals with issues related to Iran, where the EU acts as a mediator on the nuclear program. .

Biden’s election creates opportunities for the United States to rejoin. Borrell will also talk about the conflict regions: Ukraine, Afghanistan, the Syrian conflict. It is also about economic relations, because we must not forget that the EU has important trade exchanges with Russia. “The European Union is the largest investor in Russia, so maintaining these trade relations, even in the context of deep political disagreements and sanctions, will remain on the agenda as one of the most important issues,” says V. Ušackas.

When asked if the question of sanctions against Russia would be raised among all possible questions, V. Ušackas assured that being a guest and taking out the whip was not a good strategy.

“I don’t think the meeting with Lavrov Borrell will talk about sanctions, who and what to enter, be invited and come with a whip, that’s a little bit of what will come out of that meeting then. The meeting agenda will be balanced with meetings with representatives of civil society, possibly Navalno, thus balancing relations on developments in Russia.

I think it is important to understand that EU-Russia relations are not limited to human rights issues, in the first place, it includes issues related to the economy, to strategic security, which is also what the Americans are talking about with Russia ”, He says. V. Ušackas.

“Another thing to understand is that the West is not trying to reform Russia, I think the romantic approach that existed until 2012, when that Western doctrine really existed, let’s try to reform Russia, now in view of the Crimean conflict, resistance, obviously neither the West nor Russia has such hopes. It is understandable that, if a change occurs, it will happen from within. Personally, I will be interested in how the protests and Navaln’s discontent with the situation will become a kind of transformative force, “said the former ambassador.

When asked whether dissatisfaction with Navaln’s imprisonment could escalate to a broader phenomenon, the interlocutor assured that he did not see very high preconditions for very high human resistance.

“I think first of all there is frustration with the current system, the lack of direction is also stagnant. This manifests itself in my interactions with the Russian people, whether they are businessmen or human rights defenders. Another thing to admit is that the Putin regime is strong, the power structures are taking over, it has shown how strongly they are defending the Moscow epicenter and avoiding the protesters, on the other hand, Putin’s popularity also remains high. , although the popularity of United Russia has declined. If people will dare to oppose public opinion, which is broadcast through the media, or if people will resist risking their work, I don’t see such high assumptions yet, ”says V. Ušackas.