The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on EU-Russia relations : 2015-2020

Abstract

This study discusses the impact of the Ukraine-Russia conflict on EU-Russia relations from 2015 to 2020. It gives an account of EU-Russian relations from 1990 to 2020, depicting the development and progress of their relations within that given timeframe. Even though EU-Russia relations became more cooperative in the 1990s, since then their relation has been one which is best described as mercurial, displaying both moments of optimism and pessimism. This was a time when Russia was still coming to terms with a post-Soviet world. It thus sought to create new alliances, relations and eventually develop its own foreign policy. Russia was not the only actor still finding its ground during this period as the European Union was also still developing its foreign policy. Starting from merely an agreement on Coal and Steel, the then EEC created the European Political Cooperation (EPC), developed the consequential Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), implemented the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), and paved the way for a coordinated foreign policy through the fostering of international cooperation. This work highlights the independent development of both foreign policies as well as the fact that they have developed in parallel, with early relations between Russia and the EU often yielding very fruitful results. However, these relations took a turn for the worse when Russia illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula and the Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. From there on many tensions arose amongst the two, especially in regards to the EU’s foreign policy objective of expansion, which the Russians had identified as a direct threat to their nation’s security. The Ukraine-Russia conflict was merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to EU-Russian relations but represents a direct manifestation of the deteriorating nature of the two’s relations. In light of this past tension, this work critically analyses the EU’s reactions after Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine. It concludes a four-pronged approach to the EU’s reaction; basing itself on sanctions, eradicating Russia’s soft power on an international scale, diplomatic discussions and strengthening EU ties with Ukraine. The study also seeks to assess how these reactions and Russia’s counter-reactions have continued to alter the relationship between Russia and the EU, with the result of the study being that the current relationship is at an all-time low and that the only way this may be remedied is through better cooperation, diplomatic discussion and mutual trust.