But experts say the latest EU-Russia row is unlikely to lead to any immediate toughening of the bloc’s stance towards an increasingly assertive Moscow because member states cannot agree on how to handle Vladimir Putin’s regime. Borrell’s trip, which had been opposed by some member states, culminated in a press conference during which Lavrov accused EU leaders of lying about the poisoning of the jailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny and called the bloc an “unreliable partner”. EU unity on Russia, however, is unlikely to appear any time soon. Germany, which played a major role in EU sanctions against Russia after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, is resisting calls to back out of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, preferring targeted sanctions against wealthy Kremlin supporters. “Moscow knows what it wants from the EU: a relationship based on dealing separately with each member state,” said Judy Dempsey of the Carnegie Europe thinktank.

Source: The Guardian February 11, 2021 04:52 UTC