The combination of major energy deals, appearing to play nice over Ukraine and upping the ante in Syria begs the question of what Russia is trying to achieve on the international scene. It seems that Vladimir Putin is trying to throw up a smokescreen that will help cement Gazprom’s position in Europe.
To pull this off, the Russian President is hoping that the European Commission is asleep at the wheel. However, this may prove to be a naive thought writes Sijbren de Jong in the latest issue of New Eastern Europe.
The January-February issue of New Eastern Europe can be read here.