Author: Dr. Andreas Umland, Analyst with the Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI)

There are numerous reasons why negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are unlikely to be successful, but one stumbling block is particularly serious and rarely mentioned.

A careful reading of popular Russian attitudes toward the war reveals important nuances that all too often are overlooked. First and foremost is the fact that rather than consolidating Russian society, the conflict has exacerbated existing divisions on a diverse array of issues, including support for the regime. Put another way, the impression that Putin now has the full support of the Russian public is simply incorrect.

Nuclear sharing is a concept in NATO’s  policy of nuclear deterrence, which allows member countries without nuclear weapons of their own to participate in the planning for the use of nuclear weapons by NATO. In particular, it provides for the armed forces of those countries to be involved in delivering nuclear weapons in the event of their use.

The Ukraine war has become an existential crisis for Russia. Its senior leadership now appears to be talking in apocalyptic terms about the risk of Russia’s very survival, and to be on a messianic mission of which Ukraine is only part of the picture. The Kremlin’s framing sees Russia not only pitted against the West, but acting as the vanguard and protector of a collective civilization under attack, through the retelling of historical memory that casts Russia as the aggressor.

Foreign country: Any country other than Australia or an external Territory (whether or not an independent sovereign State).

Foreign government :

                     (a)  the government of a foreign country or of part of a foreign country; or

                     (b)  an authority of the government of a foreign country; or

                     (c)  an authority of the government of part of a foreign country; or

                     (d)  a foreign local government body or foreign regional government body.

The EU is being influenced by foreign actors. The EU currently shapes policy in areas such as data privacy, consumer health and safety, environmental protection, competition, and online hate speech. Lobbying is an important way for third country actors, both public and private, to influence in these same areas. The EU’s chemical policy is one policy area where non-EU actors have actively attempted to shape the making of EU’s chemicals law and policy. Another recent example is Big Tech, the largest lobbyist in the EU measured by spending.

The EU must engage in real lobbying reform to safeguard against corruption.

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia and Ukraine, including its resolutions of 6 October 2022 on Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine, of 19 May 2022 on the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine, and of 25 November 2021 on the human rights violations by private military and security companies, particularly the Wagner Group,

What the EU wants

1. In this interconnected and rapidly changing world, we depend on a rules-based international order and need commonly agreed rules and effective and inclusive global institutions, within and beyond the United Nations (UN) system, to ensure peace, security, human rights, prosperity and sustainable development for all. International law, agreements and rules establish a level playing-field for large and small countries alike.