On Monday 9 October, Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, spoke in favour of a new partnership with the EU.
"Clearly, we will not return to the previous model of 'strategic partnership' in our relations with the EU – a model that has not stood up to the challenge of the Ukrainian crisis (...) It is up to us, however, to identify a new paradigm for more sustainable cooperation, acting in the spirt of equality and respect for each other's interests", he said during a speech at the EU-Eurasia-China summit organised in Athens by The Economist.
In Chizhov's view, "the establishment of contacts and gradual approximation of the European and Eurasian integration projects as parts of an inclusive polycentric world order could serve as an important step in this direction".
Chizhov said he hoped "the period of internal reflection" that is underway in the EU would "be used to finally outline some fresh and realistic approaches to this effect". "And when this happens, our partners will know where to find us", he added. He thus put the ball in the EU's court. "We are not preconditioning in any way the amelioration of the Russia-EU relationship. We are ready to equip ourselves with 'strategic patience' and to wait for the EU to notice that, for a whole series of historical, economic, cultural and civilisational reasons, we – Russia and the EU – need each other", he said, adding that in his speech to ambassadors on 29 August, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had said that there would be no European security without Russia for the centuries to come (see EUROPE 11850).
Quoting Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Chizhov stated that his country was open "to cooperation with all the actors ready for this, on the basis of equality, respect for common interest and international law in its entirety". "We will continue to endeavour to promote these fundamental principles in our relations with the EU", he added.
Chizhov said that "the short-sighted bet" taken by the EU in 2014, based on confrontation and sanctions, has not been successful in achieving its objectives, especially peace in Ukraine. "Our mutual trust has been seriously undermined and the fabric of people-to-people contacts ruptured", he said. Chizhov added that the situation had been made worse still by "the harmful practice of certain forces inside (...) and outside the EU of using the mythical 'Russian threat' as a bogeyman to explain the rise in eurosceptic sentiment and to divert attention from domestic tension and controversy". He also criticised the "persistent efforts of NATO to strengthen its military presence and infrastructure in regions bordering Russia" – efforts which he described as "of particular concern". He mentioned the deployment of US missile defence, and the tactical groups that NATO has also set up to protect the Baltic countries and Poland.
The EU has taken out individual and economic sanctions against Russia due to the country's annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)