http://ecfr.eu/content/entry/what_does_russia_think
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« The US does not want stability in Eastern Europe. Its participation in regional coalitions is always a part of far-reaching macro-regional projects (Caspian/Caucasian, Iran/Turkey/Black Sea, Central/Middle Asia) or global ideological campaigns such as the “promotion of democracy”. Its principle aim is the globalization of the politics of interference and the subsequent exploitation of the consequences of interference.
Europe, meanwhile, is strategically dragging its feet. It has difficulty defining the scope of its global interests and, even when it begins to do so, it stumbles on its own internal decision-making procedures. But until Europe defines its interests more clearly, it is
likely to continue hoping that Russia does not play a role in any potentially significant places in the world. At the same time, Europe also finds it hard to swallow the idea of an exclusive relationship between Russia and the US.]
Instead of dealing with a real, global Russia, the Europeans would prefer a moderated and truncated version of Russia that has been specially designed to be manageable by them. However, the ambivalence does not end here. The Europeans sometimes also
demand that Russia has a responsibility to stabilize Eastern Europe. The EU says it needs “geostrategic stability” on Russia’s left flank. But it fails to understand or accept the methods that Russia uses to achieve this stability and insists on interfering at any
moment in any part of Eastern Europe without consulting Russia. In fact, it considersthis its right. »