Russia and the European Neighborhood

Russia and the
European Neighborhood
POL 137: IR IN WESTERN EUROPE
“NATO remains a military alliance, and we are against having a military alliance making
T.W. Taylor, UC Davis
itself at home right in our own backyard; in our historic territory. I simply cannot
imagine that we would travel to Sevastopol to visit NATO sailors.”
- Vladimir Putin, 2014
I. European Neighborhood Policy

Foreign policy aimed at creating ties between EU and states in the region
ENP East  eastern Europe and Caucuses
 ENP South  Middle East and North African (MENA)


Countries given assistance for reforms
Economic, political, and social reforms
 Encourage cooperation between EU and neighborhood

•
Free trade agreements
•
EU commitment toward future memberships (ENP East only)
2
Europe and the ENP
EU member states
ENP South
Enlargement agenda
ENP East
3
Russia
Other Union for the Mediterranean states
II. Russia

4
Tenuous relations with Russia
Trade dependencies
 EU and NATO relationship
 EU enlargement
 Human rights and democracy


Disputes
Gas disputes
 Russia’s “near abroad”

Putin (Russia), Hollande (France), and Merkel (Germany)
at G20 summit, 2014
5
EU energy dependency
Russian pipelines to Europe
(current and proposed)
III. Ukraine Crisis

6
Development divide in eastern Europe
Members vs. non-members
 Russian or EU sphere of influence


Background to Ukraine Crisis


Demographics
1991 independence
•

Democratically elected Viktor Yanukovych
•


1994 Budapest Memorandum
strengthened Russian ties
Ukraine moved toward EU integration
Dec 2013: Ukraine accepted Russian bailout
•
$15 billion bailout and 33% discount on natural gas
Yanukovych (Ukraine) and Putin
(Russia) sign a bilateral celebration,
2013
Ukraine protests, Feb. 2014
7
Ukraine and the Russian language
8
Course of events

Euromaiden Protests (Nov 2013 – Feb 2014)


Yanukovych flees presidency
Crimean crisis



“Russian” troops secured strategic locations in Crimea
Russia annexed Crimea after March 2014 referendum
War in Donbass


pro-Russian vs. pro-government conflict in East
Russian support
•


9
Arms and advisors
over 5,000 killed
Sanctions from West
Masked and unmarked soldiers in Crimea
Crash of Malaysian Airlines MH17
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Sanctioning Russia
Countries that have introduced sanctions against Russia, dark green are EU member states
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Explanations

Putin reasserting Cold War Russian politics/power
Russia expanding regional power
 Annexation of Crimea


Putin responding to encroachment from the West (Mearsheimer 2014)
e.g. Georgia war, 2008
 NATO (and EU) enlargement
 Ukraine’s pivotal role
 Conclusion: realpolitik matters

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Responding to Ukraine
Discussion Activity

How should the EU respond to the crisis in Ukraine?

With a partner, discuss:
Should the EU take steps to intervene in the crisis in Ukraine?


If yes  what should the EU do?
•

e.g. sanctions, peacemaking, etc.
If no  what affect will this have upon future enlargement in the east?
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