Political situation development in the early XXI century in Eurasia witnesses to naked aspiration of Russia to restore its geopolitical positions and former power creating new empire with former Soviet Union countries led by Moscow. Now the central aim is to involve Ukraine under influence of the Kremlin. As former US National Security Advisor of US president Zbigniew Brzezinski has noted, for new empire creation and former power restoring it’s necessary for Moscow to obtain control over Ukraine back.
His words about importance of Ukraine for new Russian empire creation are true for all democratic East European peoples. Especially for us, Poles, that’s not theoretic issue, but it has right pragmatic sense. The question of Kiev’s transformation to Moscow satellite stands not only before Ukrainians. If to recollect history in case of “new successful colonization” of Ukraine we will be the following, then Hungary and Romania etc. Vilnius-Summit by signing of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement can stop Russian aspirations to restore new empire of 21th century. So that it’s necessary to examine closely the EU integration processes in the Eastern neighborhood and especially forces that oppose Kiev on this way.
The highest priority of the Kremlin to Ukraine was all this time blocking of relations between Kiev and Brussels. To decide this problem Mr. Putin has used all possible ways including economic pressure and political blackmail. The special place takes here well known tactics of use of European Establishment for discredit of EU integration aspirations of Ukraine in the public’ opinion.
Playing political convictions and human weaknesses of the European politicians, Moscow will skillfully involve them in its information campaign directed against official Kiev. The Kremlin doesn’t lose a chance to use their authority when they attack Ukraine for non-implementation of Association Agreement conditions.
Several generations of European chiefs of state, who firmly hold quite certain political convictions and defend democratic principles, were successfully involved by Moscow in the political tricks directed against other states. It’s necessary to tell that these politicians compromised with Moscow both unintentionally only defending their principles and for certain economic preferences for themselves or for their states. There was a case with notorious agreements between Germany and Gazprom to build Nord Stream reached despite protests of Poland and the Baltic states and to the detriment of their national interests.
Warm and friendly relations of German political leaders with the president Putin do not surprise so long as it’s caused by interest of Germany to the Russian market and to raw materials sources. Berlin considers Russia first of all as a resource for economic growth support and a country where German investors had already adapted and consolidated well enough. As a result for German politicians business interests became more priority than democratic principles. And it’s not any more surprised that to please to Russian friend they exert information influence on the public spreading biased assessments of home political processes in Ukraine and interfere to Ukrainian authorities with realization of the EU integration policy.
In answer Russia compensates generously these services. So, former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is named “manager of Gazprom” for the Russian interests’ advocacy in Europe, has taken “warm job” of chairman of Shareholders Committee of North European Gas Pipeline Company (NEGPC).
It is expected that the same stand of Russian interest lobbying will also be taken by his SDP party member Steinbrueck, the former federal Minister of Finance and the representative of Germany’s financial circles. These politicians lobby the Kremlin interests on the European political arena quite consciously pursuing corporate goals.
Among the French establishment there are also many politicians who play on Moscow hand. There is some succession in authoritative regimes’ support such as former Gaddafi regime in Libya or Putin regime in Russia. So, the former president of France Nicola Sarkozy, who is accused of corruption, used actively Gaddafi’s financial support for his needs in election campaign and actively opposed EU expansions, namely former Soviet states entrance to the EU.
Many politicians don’t hide their ties with Russia and participate actively in bilateral events, maintain friendly relations with members of Russian government and members of parliament. One have their own business in Russia, in particular in building sector, others attract actively Russian companies to investment projects in shipbuilding. Thus, they have personal including material one in political cooperation with Moscow and can negatively influence on French politicians’ assessments of relations’ development between Ukraine and EU.
After coming of socialists into power in France, situation has little changed. The Socialist Party leaders with President Hollande enjoy also favor with the Kremlin. They don’t refuse generous gifts, holidays on elite resorts and financial support of Gazprom and other powerful Russian industrial corporations. Probably, it’s the main reason they criticize assiduously the Ukrainian authorities’ efforts to implement EU obligations and call for refusal of Association Agreement signing at Vilnius-Summit.
In July of this year in National Assembly of France the information mission of the Foreign Affairs Committee “French and European policy in relation to Russia” has been created.
The issue of this mission is to investigate modern relations between France and Russia and between EU and Russia and to give the Foreign Affairs Committee the recommendations about policy correction. Because of pro-Russian members two months the main accent of work has been put, however, on adjacent questions, such as Russian-Polish and Russian-Ukrainian relations, development of Customs and Eurasian Unions.
Members had already time to hold private meetings with ambassadors of Poland and Ukraine in France. Top-question of conversation with our ambassador, Mr. Orlowski, was Russian-Polish economic cooperation, but Russian imperial policy to eastern neighbors has been ignored, as well as followed.
In any case, any friendly ties of European political elite with Mr. Putin shouldn’t cause certain suspicions. Moreover, reaction of European leaders on EU integration prospects of Ukrainian looks like financial injections good fed by Russian gas supply.
East European countries look at prospect of Russian empire restoration with concern. Public apprehensions are caused also by such reason that Putin’s aspirations to restore former power became stimulus for revival of imperial ambitions of some EU policy-makers, who hope reallocating spheres of influence in the world.
They try to create such order of political system, at which Southern and Eastern European countries will sell into bondage from France and Germany. Anyhow, support of Vladimir Putin policy by Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande and their predecessors must be considered as renewal of private agreement on mutual aid that was between the European monarchs in 19th century.
Anti-Ukrainian rhetoric of European leaders testifies to their hypocrisy, self-interest and lack of foresight, because they put material benefits above democratic principles and interests of European people.
It’s necessary to remember, however, that to turn history into policy tools is very dangerous. History teaches us not to repeat errors of the past and not to go those roads that had already led to tragedies and accidents.