Westerlies
Growing up in Hungary, gaining experience across Europe and moving to Britain to study European Studies and Modern Languages: Spanish and Russian at the University of Bath, I have developed a keen interest in European foreign policy, in particular the East-West relationship within and beyond the continent.
I am commencing this blog in cooperation with the Russian International Affairs Council in order to analyse and critically assess developments in Russia-EU relations.
I will monitor the international press and attempt to share my impressions and whatever they stir up with you.
I intend to produce thorough, insightful (but nonetheless entertaining and digestible) pieces.
Watch this space!
New entries
My ability to remember might be one of my weakest, and it’s been an eventful couple of months since I left Moscow. Yet my memories of RIAC are as vivid as ever; it’s certainly left a mark. Sure, I was dead set on making the…
Edward Lucas is a senior editor of The Economist. He was the weekly’s Moscow bureau chief between 1998 and 2002, later serving as its Central and East European correspondent. Lucas is author of three books: Deception, on Russia-West…
In Eastern Ukraine, we are seeing an ingenious Russian plot unfold — for the second time. Russian servicemen, wearing no insignia, infiltrate into the area and, capitalising on marginal grassroots separatism, spark unrest. They…
Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea has enraged the West. His lack of openness to any compromise has forced it to launch a — weak — sanctions regime. Putin finds this ‘unacceptable’ and threatens retaliation…
Having invaded Crimea, set up a puppet government and organised a sham referendum, now Vladimir Putin will have to facilitate the region’s accession to Russia. There is little doubt this is going to happen swiftly. Any different reaction to…
Looking at the Ukrainian and EU flags waving proudly in front of the White House, one is reminded that the Transatlantic one is a community of values. That despite all strains, spooks, our inability to live up to our very…
With the intense Twitter activity of Western journalists, the gaffes at the Sochi Olympics have reached all of us. And people are certainly not happy about it in Russia, where it is common to denounce criticism coming from the West as…
Hungary's nuclear deal with Russia, and its handling, could be a powerful weapon in the opposition's hands, with elections due in April On January 31, Hungary’s Ministry of National Development announced that…
Believe the protest leader's story or not, the response of Ukraine's authorities is suspicious Dmytro Bulatov, leader of AvtoMaidan, the motor wing of the Euromaidan protests, appeared on 30 January after 8 days in the dark. He claimed…
It might seem that, Ukraine having decided not to sign a deal with the EU last week in Vilnius, the Union lost the integration contest to Russia. But developments seem to be on the way. In light of the happenings of the past few days, Europe may come…
The deal on Syria’s chemical disarmament, announced by John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov today in Geneva, is well short of a victory for America and the West. Lacking any concrete threat of force for non-compliance, it could be used by Syria’s…
The Copenhagen Dilemma, as the EU’s lack of power to give meaning to its basic values after accession is called, is big. Not a big dilemma, but a big issue. In Brussels, talk follows conference as politicians and academics brainstorm together…
Poll conducted
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In your opinion, what are the US long-term goals for Russia?
U.S. wants to establish partnership relations with Russia on condition that it meets the U.S. requirements 33 (31%) U.S. wants to deter Russia’s military and political activity 30 (28%) U.S. wants to dissolve Russia 24 (22%) U.S. wants to establish alliance relations with Russia under the US conditions to rival China 21 (19%)
