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Isolation: the EU’s new official policy towards Russia

The EC tries to formalize a new strategy for Russia: isolationwrites “Political”.

EU officials argue new principles to replace the obsolete documentwho leads the bloc’s policy towards Moscow.

The most notable updated principle would be: “International isolation of Russia, impose and apply restrictive measures against Russia and prevent its circumvention“.

In one sense, this is simply a reflection of reality on the ground. Since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, the EU has focused on adopting and then implementing wide-ranging sanctions against large parts of the country’s economy, imports and exports .

But while the war still rages on, not everyone agrees that now is the right time to resolve related issues how to deal with the EU’s long-term relationship with Moscow.

That probably means be discussed of weeks or months. And those talks officially began on Monday, when EU foreign ministers reviewed the draft, seen by Politico, during a meeting in Brussels.

The text project — prepared by the diplomatic corps of the bloc and referred to as “line to take” in European slang – includes six points intended to replace the previous five guiding principlesthat the block adopted in 2016 d. The diplomats stressed that the project is intended to encourage personal discussion.

In addition to isolation, the basic principles of the document include “ensuring accountability” for any Russian war crimes and “supporting EU neighbours” – largely a reference to the Balkan countriessome of which aspire to EU membership.

It also mentions “working in close cooperation with NATO allies“, “support civil society” in Russia and “strengthen the sustainability of the EU”, a bow to energy dependence of the blockade of Moscow, the increase in cyber attacks and the spread of digital disinformation.

The new project bears little resemblance to the one the EU has technically been working on since 2016 d. This document includes a number of principles that are no longer applicable: ending the conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukraine in the east of the country, selectively engaging Russia on issues such as counter-terrorism, and supporting people-to-people contacts.

Strengthening civil society and building closer ties with the EU’s neighbors were also on the initial list.

Overall, the updated draft shouldn’t cause major problems, the diplomats said.

One a moot point is the wording that “there can be no return to normal relations” as Moscow attacks Ukraine and violates international law.

Diplomats said so the Baltic countries, traditionally more vehement towards Russia, want that line be stronger. But they also added that Germany is satisfied with the current text.

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