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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed out this Wednesday during his speech at the 10th edition of the Primakov Lectures, an annual forum devoted to international relations and the world economy, what he considers to be a “Estonization” of Europe.
According to him, a “blatant Russophobia” has taken hold within the structures of the European Union, a phenomenon that he considers “very sad”.
Lavrov’s statements come as Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, known for her very critical positions towards Russia, succeeded Josep Borrell as head of European diplomacy. For the head of Russian diplomacy, this “Estonization” of mentalities at the EU summit would be a sign of growing Russophobia.
Lavrov also lamented the impossible “Finlandization” of Europe, referring to Finland’s choice for neutrality in the aftermath of World War II. According to him, this “Finlandization” could not take place because “the Americans did not allow Europe to be an independent actor based on principles of neutrality”.
The Russian minister notably criticized European policy, notably Macron’s “speeches on strategic autonomy” which, according to him, “only arouse sadness”. He also denounced the fact that Russia’s partners have not been “benevolent” towards it, “especially across the Atlantic, where we did everything not to take our own interests into account and they did everything not to fulfill their commitments.
This position by Sergei Lavrov comes in a context of increased geopolitical tensions between Russia and Western countries, particularly since the start of the crisis in Ukraine in February 2022. It reveals the Kremlin’s vision of Russia’s place in the world order, and on relations with the European Union and the United States.
Beyond Lavrov’s statements, this question of the “Estonization” of Europe raises broader questions about the evolution of relations between Moscow and European capitals, in a context marked by the war in Ukraine and sanctions. economic conditions imposed on Russia.
It should be recalled that the representatives of the Member States of the European Union announced on June 20 that they had approved a fourteenth package of sanctions against Russia.
These restrictive measures target in particular the transshipment of Russian LNG within the EU as well as the Financial Message Transfer System (SPFS), the Russian equivalent of the Swift system.
“This impactful plan will further deprive Russia of access to key technologies,” the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, immediately clarified on her page She also claimed that this future package of sanctions would “deprive Russia of additional energy-related revenues, allowing it to attack Putin’s shadow fleet and shadow banking network abroad.”
1,725 Russians under EU sanctions
According to AFP, which obtained the list of these new sanctions, there is a ban on the transshipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) within the European Union.
This new package of sanctions also targets the Financial Message Transfer System (SPFS), which allows financial transactions, the French press agency added. This system was put in place by Russia following its exclusion from the Swift network.
Additionally, the European Union will expand this list to include more than 40 new individuals and organizations. As the publications indicate, the approval of new measures was delayed due to the German position on strengthening the rules for subsidiaries of European companies operating in Russia, but a compromise was eventually found.
Since February 2022, the EU has introduced 13 rounds of sanctions against Russia, its citizens and its organizations.
In total, 1,725 natural persons and 420 legal entities are subject to European restrictions. EU citizens and businesses are prohibited from providing funds to individuals on sanctions lists. Individuals are also subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through the territory of the European Union.
Russia is facing unprecedented Western sanctions, the scope of which Russian officials regularly question. “No matter how hard they try, all their attempts to contain and isolate Russia have failed,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 7.
Highlighting figures from the World Bank, the Russian president declared during the plenary session of the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg that his country had risen to fourth place in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. (PPA), placing itself ahead of Japan. “Despite all the obstacles, the sanctions that have been imposed against us, we are today a major player in international trade,” he declared.