DISINFO: The EU, raising the degree of Russophobia, brought relations with Russia to the lowest point
SUMMARY
The EU, raising the degree of Russophobia, brought its relations with Russia to the lowest point in many decades. And it did so on its own and voluntarily - long before Joe Biden entered the White House. So this time, the actions of the Europeans can in no way be attributed to the forced need to follow in the wake of Washington within the framework of vassal-allied relations.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing the EU of Russophobia, of being a vassal of the US, attempting to put the responsibility for the state of EU-Russian relations on Brussels, ignoring the reasons behind the sanctions as well as attempting to deflect attention from Russia's violations of international law.
EU-Russian relations are not determined by Russophobia. 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. These events have seriously affected bilateral relations.
The EU has also strongly condemned the assassination attempt of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny and sanctioned 6 individuals and 1 entity involved in the assassination attempt using chemical weapons. There is unequivocal evidence that Navalny was poisoned using a Novichok-type nerve agent; prohibited according to the OPCW where Russia is a member.
The EU and its member states have maintained a clear policy of reaching out to Russian society and youth, mainly through the Erasmus+ student exchange programme and other people-to-people contacts. On behalf of the European Union, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), Josep Borrell travelled to Moscow in February 2021 with the intention of pursuing a dialogue on core issues in the relations between the European Union and Russia. The Kremlin answered the European Union’s invitation to dialogue with a shameless attempt to deflect attention from its violations of Russia’s international obligations and own laws. However, the EU will continue to engage with Russia when it is in the interest of the EU.
Finally, the EU is not a vassal of the US, but a sovereign entity, created by the voluntary initiative of European nations, and it has its own, independent foreign policy. Its citizens are directly represented in the European Parliament and Member States are represented in the European Council and the Council of the EU. The United States of America is not part of these institutions. The US is an important ally to the EU but the latter's policy is not determined by the US, as explained by the EU High Representative.
Read similar cases in our database: EU- Russia relations was destroyed by the unilateral decisions of Brussels; The EU has pushed the relations with Russia to a dead-end.