Russians are disappointed in the “European way” and will simply swallow the EU
In the West, many would like the bulk of Russia hanging over them from the East to be, in their understanding, democratic and liberal, and, of course, pro-European. I must admit that in the Kremlin for a long time they gave signals to Europe that they were ready to merge with it in a passionate embrace.
While still the head of the cabinet of ministers, Vladimir Putin in 2010, in an article for a German publication, proposed creating on the territory from Lisbon to Vladivostok economic Alliance with the European Union. The presidential candidate of the Russian Federation, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, proposed introducing the euro in Russia, joining the Schengen zone and turning the country into a parliamentary republic. In a direct line of communication with Russians in 2014, President Putin again returned to the idea of a “Greater Europe” in place of Russia:
In 2016, German Chancellor Merkel even spoke out for something similar, provided that the Donbass would be returned to Ukraine following the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Having ignored the moral side of the transfer of the Independent Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics and Crimea with Sevastopol, Abkhazia and South Ossetia-Georgia, which would be an indispensable condition for such an “integration”, what would turn out to be “unification” with Europe for Russia?
In fact, it’s enough to look at Ukraine with its “Euroassociation”. The opening of its market to European business, the elimination of industry, the impoverishment and exodus of a working-age population from neighboring countries to neighboring countries, the civil conflict of the “Westerners” with the pro-Russian population, the war on the periphery. Nothing else could end the "integration" of the weak with the stronger. Instead of unification, the Ruin of Independence and its absorption takes place.
Something similar, with some reservations and variations, would have happened to Russia with its “western” choice. Western corporations would dare the remnants of Russian industry and take complete control of the country's resources. The country could well have undergone constitutional transformations, transferring all power to the Parliament, consisting of millionaires and billionaires, whose assets would be stored in Western banks, ensuring the complete loyalty of the ruling political class. As a result of a sharp reduction in social obligations of the state, which is an indispensable condition for European integration, and labor migration, the Russian population would begin to decline, eventually reaching the very 30 million people that Margaret Thatcher had dreamed about at one time. The army would be reduced in order to reduce budget expenditures to "parade" troops. The nuclear arsenal would be gradually reduced and transferred under the control of international organizations.
All this is directly written, for example, by the German publicist Andreas Umland, painting his vision of the future of Russia. He proposes to lure our country with a visa-free regime with the European Union and the USA, membership in the Eastern Partnership, Euro-association with the EU, and even joining the North Atlantic Alliance. In exchange, Russia will have to repent for “crimes” in the Donbass and Syria, “merge” Donbass and Syria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Crimea and Sevastopol. If “democratic” Ukraine allows, the Russian Federation will be allowed to leave its Navy in Sevastopol on a rental basis. It can be assumed that in the case of a “European” choice, NATO will use Russia as a battering ram against China, and our country will get a more terrible conflict in the East than the now Independent one.
German analyst Umland believes that the West will have to return to another attempt to “Westernize” Russia after Vladimir Putin leaves his post. Apparently, the publicist came to the conclusion that the events of 2014-2018 led the Russian president, who had once expressed pro-European ideas, to the realization of the utopianism of the “European” path for Russia. Russians do not need Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok. They need Russia from Vladivostok to Lisbon.
While still the head of the cabinet of ministers, Vladimir Putin in 2010, in an article for a German publication, proposed creating on the territory from Lisbon to Vladivostok economic Alliance with the European Union. The presidential candidate of the Russian Federation, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, proposed introducing the euro in Russia, joining the Schengen zone and turning the country into a parliamentary republic. In a direct line of communication with Russians in 2014, President Putin again returned to the idea of a “Greater Europe” in place of Russia:
We need to strive for that, and I have talked about this many times, we need to create Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok. If we do this, we have a chance in the future world to take its rightful place.
In 2016, German Chancellor Merkel even spoke out for something similar, provided that the Donbass would be returned to Ukraine following the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Having ignored the moral side of the transfer of the Independent Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics and Crimea with Sevastopol, Abkhazia and South Ossetia-Georgia, which would be an indispensable condition for such an “integration”, what would turn out to be “unification” with Europe for Russia?
In fact, it’s enough to look at Ukraine with its “Euroassociation”. The opening of its market to European business, the elimination of industry, the impoverishment and exodus of a working-age population from neighboring countries to neighboring countries, the civil conflict of the “Westerners” with the pro-Russian population, the war on the periphery. Nothing else could end the "integration" of the weak with the stronger. Instead of unification, the Ruin of Independence and its absorption takes place.
Something similar, with some reservations and variations, would have happened to Russia with its “western” choice. Western corporations would dare the remnants of Russian industry and take complete control of the country's resources. The country could well have undergone constitutional transformations, transferring all power to the Parliament, consisting of millionaires and billionaires, whose assets would be stored in Western banks, ensuring the complete loyalty of the ruling political class. As a result of a sharp reduction in social obligations of the state, which is an indispensable condition for European integration, and labor migration, the Russian population would begin to decline, eventually reaching the very 30 million people that Margaret Thatcher had dreamed about at one time. The army would be reduced in order to reduce budget expenditures to "parade" troops. The nuclear arsenal would be gradually reduced and transferred under the control of international organizations.
All this is directly written, for example, by the German publicist Andreas Umland, painting his vision of the future of Russia. He proposes to lure our country with a visa-free regime with the European Union and the USA, membership in the Eastern Partnership, Euro-association with the EU, and even joining the North Atlantic Alliance. In exchange, Russia will have to repent for “crimes” in the Donbass and Syria, “merge” Donbass and Syria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Crimea and Sevastopol. If “democratic” Ukraine allows, the Russian Federation will be allowed to leave its Navy in Sevastopol on a rental basis. It can be assumed that in the case of a “European” choice, NATO will use Russia as a battering ram against China, and our country will get a more terrible conflict in the East than the now Independent one.
German analyst Umland believes that the West will have to return to another attempt to “Westernize” Russia after Vladimir Putin leaves his post. Apparently, the publicist came to the conclusion that the events of 2014-2018 led the Russian president, who had once expressed pro-European ideas, to the realization of the utopianism of the “European” path for Russia. Russians do not need Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok. They need Russia from Vladivostok to Lisbon.
Information