Putting democracy at the heart of the EU’s Russia strategy

Roland Freudenstein

doi:10.1177/17816858211011781

Abstract

It is high time for a fundamental review of the EU’s strategy towards Russia. After years of fruitless attempts to ‘reset’ relations with Moscow through a kind of engagement that has all too often ended up in appeasement, the EU and its member states should prepare for a long stand-off and put democracy at the centre of the relationship. This means doing better at defending our democracy against hostile interference from the Kremlin, strengthening democratic movements and the rule of law in the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, supporting Russia’s civil society with more determination and creativity, and mentally preparing for a democratic post-Putin Russia. In short, we have to offer more help to Russia’s democrats and be more confrontational with the Kremlin. All this has to happen in close coordination with our transatlantic allies and as part of a global effort to support democrats and defend democracy against authoritarianism.

Highlights

The EU’s policy on Russia under President Vladimir Putin has gone through spurts and spasms ever since 2014—the watershed year when the Kremlin’s toxic aggression became obvious to a larger audience in Europe and the US
The spring and summer of 2021 could—and should—become the moment when the EU rises to the challenge with a more unified approach, comprising a more realistic assessment of the character of the Kremlin’s regime and the opposition to it, and a more forward-looking appraisal of Russia’s democratic future
The robust stance of new US President Joe Biden with regard to Russia, as well as his support for global democracy and his intention to form an alliance of democracies, is excellent news for a revised and more transatlantic approach to relations with Russia and helping democrats in Eastern Europe

Summary

Introduction

The EU’s policy on Russia under President Vladimir Putin has gone through spurts and spasms ever since 2014—the watershed year when the Kremlin’s toxic aggression became obvious to a larger audience in Europe and the US. Alexei Navalny and the reawakening of Russian civil society upon his return, as well as the aftermath of the humiliating Moscow visit by EU High Representative Josep Borrell in early February 2021, offer an excellent opportunity to fundamentally revise the EU’s Russia strategy. Supporting Russia’s democrats should become a central feature of the EU’s new Russia strategy (Stelzenmüller 2021). The robust stance of new US President Joe Biden with regard to Russia, as well as his support for global democracy and his intention to form an alliance of democracies, is excellent news for a revised and more transatlantic approach to relations with Russia and helping democrats in Eastern Europe. Support for people-to-people contacts and Russian civil society is a good principle but has been followed up with too little ambition. At least mentally, for a democratic Russia that we and the rest of the world can work with

Improving our resilience

Conclusion