Hungary, Greece, Cyprus and – perhaps – Italy. The Kremlin has its Trojan horses in the EU to marginalize the most anti-Russian stanceof Germany, Poland and the Baltic states. And it’s working.
Sanctions hurt, it’s true. However, unlike what some European political parties want us to believe, they do hit Moscow more than the boomerang effect hits the European economy. Putin knows it. That’s why hetaking advantage of the economic weaknesses of some countries to split the unity of European action. Exploiting the new transnational alliance between the European Right parties(see Orban, Le Pen and Salvini) and the Kremlin. And the Greece of Tsipras.
Russia shopping at Europe market
Moscow has begun to court Hungary. Or perhaps it was the opposite. The result is still an engagement of convenience for both that could lead to a long lasting marriage.
A few weeks ago, Putin pulled off a check for 10 billion euroas a loan to Budapest to finance the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant, the country’s only nuclear plant,supplyingalone 40% of energy needs. But according to many it’s just a giftin change of Hungary’sa favorable position towards Russia within the European institutions.
Not a big effort for Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who expressed during his mandate a remarkable harmony with Putin’s policy towards the media and freedom of expression.
More recently, on April 7, was signed in Budapest in a document related tothe Turkish Streamproject, the gas pipeline thatwill replace the South Stream, blocked by Europe.
Race against time
It is not an isolated episode but part of a deliberate strategy. Already in 2011 Russia had granted Cyprus, in great economic difficulties, a 2.5 billion euroloan. And in February it was renegotiated in an even more favorable way, in exchange of the access for Russian military fleet toCyprus naval bases.
Putin also flirts with Italy. He did not offer money but Italy has all to gain from a halt to sanctions. The recent visit to the Expo in Milan and meeting with Matteo Renzi (the only European leader withOrbanto have invited the Russian president a year now) is a tangible sign.
And now there is Greece. That signed a deal worth 2 billion euro for the construction of the Turkish Stream is on its territory. A breath of fresh air for Tsipras, desperately seeking to stanch the bleeding of money that afflicts the country.
Putin’sshopping in Europe is a race against time. The goal is to create a fringe of EU member that could veto the renewal of economic sanctions, due to expire in July. The European position, led by Germany, Poland and Lithuania, is for keeping the hard line against Moscow, but Putin’s plan to split Europe could succeed.
@daniloeliatweet
Hungary, Greece, Cyprus and – perhaps – Italy. The Kremlin has its Trojan horses in the EU to marginalize the most anti-Russian stanceof Germany, Poland and the Baltic states. And it’s working.
