Some days ago, I met former Head of the EU External Action Service Pierre Vimont. After retiring from his high-ranking EU position, he was asked by President Macron to help him open channels of communication with Russia. Indeed, it is absolutely grotesque that today the EU has less communication with Russia than the West had with the Soviet Union. This is in part because the members of the EU that suffered under the Russian/Soviet annexation or occupation are not at all interested in fostering good relations with Russia. Vimont will have a particularly hard task to convince these countries that better communication with Russia is not the same as supporting Russia‘s policies and actions.
It is true that Russia under President Putin is acting more and more in a way that makes any understanding and cooperation difficult. Russia’s intervention, occupation, and annexation of parts of foreign countries go entirely against international law and are detrimental to peace. Putin’s political and military support for Syria’s Assad regime is equally in violation of international and humanitarian law. This is especially visible these days given the indiscriminate bombing of schools, hospitals, and civilians in Idlib province by Russian planes or with support of Russian military forces. This goes far beyond fighting terrorism. Moreover, Russia’s military activities in Libya and the Central African Republic cannot be interpreted as actions seeking to establish peace.
Nevertheless, to talk to Russia - without illusions(!) - is necessary. Europe cannot ignore Russia, even if it condemns many of its actions. And the EU should be clear on any violation of international or humanitarian law. But the fact that the US - or sometimes EU countries - might also be violating international law is neither a justification for being soft on Russia nor is it an argument to refrain from better communication with Russia. Peace in and around Europe can only be promoted and established with Russia. It is time to recognize this fact.
In a very critical comment about Russia’s policies titled “Will courting Putin always end in tears?” Ian Bond of the Centre for European Reform writes: “Western leaders should not forget history, ancient or recent, or ignore the reality of Putin’s Russia, but nor should they be its pioneers. The disappointed hopes of their predecessors may be buried all around the Kremlin; but the West’s relations with Russia do not always have to be as bad as they are now. As long as Putin’s guests have read their history books and come with realistic expectations, their visits need not end in tears.”
Dr. Hannes Swoboda, President of the International Institute for Peace (IP), started his career in urban politics in Vienna and was elected member of the European Parliament in 1996. He was Vice President of the Social Democrat Group until 2012 und then President until 2014. He was particularly engaged in foreign, enlargement, and neighborhood policies. Swoboda is also President of the Vienna Institute for International Economics, the Centre of Architecture, the University for Applied Science - Campus Vienna, and the Sir Peter Ustinov Institute.