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| For Putin, Slights Signal Tension With E.U. | |
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| BRUSSELS — President Vladimir V. Putin for years trumpeted Russia’s grand ambitions for improved relations with the European Union. He not only pushed to break down visa barriers across a vast expanse of territory covering more than 6,000 miles, but also urged the creation of what he calls a “harmonious economic community stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok.” | BRUSSELS — President Vladimir V. Putin for years trumpeted Russia’s grand ambitions for improved relations with the European Union. He not only pushed to break down visa barriers across a vast expanse of territory covering more than 6,000 miles, but also urged the creation of what he calls a “harmonious economic community stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok.” |
| On Tuesday, Mr. Putin arrived at the Brussels headquarters of the 28-nation bloc. But he will not even get dinner. That customary courtesy got yanked from the program — a small sign of how escalating tensions over the unrest in Ukraine have soured even the basic routines of diplomacy and chilled relations between Moscow and Brussels. | On Tuesday, Mr. Putin arrived at the Brussels headquarters of the 28-nation bloc. But he will not even get dinner. That customary courtesy got yanked from the program — a small sign of how escalating tensions over the unrest in Ukraine have soured even the basic routines of diplomacy and chilled relations between Moscow and Brussels. |
| Beyond the protocol slights, there are stark limits to how far Europe is willing or able to go in a high-stakes struggle with Russia over Ukraine, where weeks of peaceful protests last week tipped into violence and raised the unnerving prospect of chaotic civil strife on Europe’s eastern border. | Beyond the protocol slights, there are stark limits to how far Europe is willing or able to go in a high-stakes struggle with Russia over Ukraine, where weeks of peaceful protests last week tipped into violence and raised the unnerving prospect of chaotic civil strife on Europe’s eastern border. |
| Russia and Europe have for weeks been trading accusations over Ukraine, with each accusing the other of meddling in the affairs of a sovereign state. Russia last week added to the tit-for-tat recriminations by issuing a lengthy report on what it said were human rights abuses in the European Union. The report scorned what it described as misguided European efforts to impose “an alien view of homosexuality and same-sex marriage as a norm of life and some kind of natural social phenomenon.” | Russia and Europe have for weeks been trading accusations over Ukraine, with each accusing the other of meddling in the affairs of a sovereign state. Russia last week added to the tit-for-tat recriminations by issuing a lengthy report on what it said were human rights abuses in the European Union. The report scorned what it described as misguided European efforts to impose “an alien view of homosexuality and same-sex marriage as a norm of life and some kind of natural social phenomenon.” |
| Instead of the ceremonies and wide-ranging meetings, which are usual at the twice-yearly summit meetings between the European Union and Russia, Mr. Putin faces a truncated session lasting just a day, instead of the normal two. He arrived early afternoon Tuesday for a brisk photo call and then talks with Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, the body representing member states, and José Manuel Barroso, the president of the bloc’s executive arm, the European Commission. | Instead of the ceremonies and wide-ranging meetings, which are usual at the twice-yearly summit meetings between the European Union and Russia, Mr. Putin faces a truncated session lasting just a day, instead of the normal two. He arrived early afternoon Tuesday for a brisk photo call and then talks with Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, the body representing member states, and José Manuel Barroso, the president of the bloc’s executive arm, the European Commission. |
| “There was a strong sense on the part of both President Van Rompuy and President Barroso that we could not simply have a business-as-usual summit following the usual agenda where we tick the boxes,” said a senior European Union official, explaining the change in format. | “There was a strong sense on the part of both President Van Rompuy and President Barroso that we could not simply have a business-as-usual summit following the usual agenda where we tick the boxes,” said a senior European Union official, explaining the change in format. |
| Officials in Brussels insist that they still want to develop what is officially a “strategic partnership” with Russia, an arrangement built primarily on strong trade ties, but say that they first need to clear a thicket of mistrust, something nobody expects to happen soon. | Officials in Brussels insist that they still want to develop what is officially a “strategic partnership” with Russia, an arrangement built primarily on strong trade ties, but say that they first need to clear a thicket of mistrust, something nobody expects to happen soon. |
| European Union leaders “don’t know how to deal with Putin. They can’t deal with him: They are 28 and he is one,” said Amanda Paul of the European Policy Center, a Brussels-based research body. “They don’t have a response to Russia other than words and phrases. Frankly, I doubt Mr. Putin cares at all whether he gets dinner or not. He has his own chef.” | European Union leaders “don’t know how to deal with Putin. They can’t deal with him: They are 28 and he is one,” said Amanda Paul of the European Policy Center, a Brussels-based research body. “They don’t have a response to Russia other than words and phrases. Frankly, I doubt Mr. Putin cares at all whether he gets dinner or not. He has his own chef.” |
| But Mr. Putin’s own hand is now looking considerably weaker than it did just a few days ago. After seizing the initiative in Ukraine by prodding President Viktor F. Yanukovych to spurn a far-reaching trade and political agreement with Europe in November, the Russian president risks being caught wrong-footed by the rush of events, said Michael Emerson, the bloc’s former envoy in Moscow. | But Mr. Putin’s own hand is now looking considerably weaker than it did just a few days ago. After seizing the initiative in Ukraine by prodding President Viktor F. Yanukovych to spurn a far-reaching trade and political agreement with Europe in November, the Russian president risks being caught wrong-footed by the rush of events, said Michael Emerson, the bloc’s former envoy in Moscow. |
| “This is a crucial moment,” Mr. Emerson said. “A few weeks ago it looked as if Putin was winning. Now Putin is losing. This should be the setting for a thorough rethink by both parties, particularly Russia.” He added that Russia needs to show that “all its talk about a ‘common European house’ from Lisbon to Vladivostok is not just a slogan and that Ukraine can be comfortable with both the E.U. and Russia.” | “This is a crucial moment,” Mr. Emerson said. “A few weeks ago it looked as if Putin was winning. Now Putin is losing. This should be the setting for a thorough rethink by both parties, particularly Russia.” He added that Russia needs to show that “all its talk about a ‘common European house’ from Lisbon to Vladivostok is not just a slogan and that Ukraine can be comfortable with both the E.U. and Russia.” |
| The position of Mr. Yanukovych, Ukraine’s embattled pro-Russian president, has grown increasingly uncertain in recent days as unrest has spread across the country, including to Russian-speaking regions that form the bedrock of his political base. | The position of Mr. Yanukovych, Ukraine’s embattled pro-Russian president, has grown increasingly uncertain in recent days as unrest has spread across the country, including to Russian-speaking regions that form the bedrock of his political base. |
| On Tuesday, Mykola Azarov, the prime minister and a staunch ally of Mr. Yanukovych, resigned — just hours before the Parliament was scheduled to hold a no-confidence vote that appeared likely to strip him of his powers. His resignation was the latest sign of building momentum for the opposition, which wants Ukraine to end what protesters see as their country’s subservience to Russia. | On Tuesday, Mykola Azarov, the prime minister and a staunch ally of Mr. Yanukovych, resigned — just hours before the Parliament was scheduled to hold a no-confidence vote that appeared likely to strip him of his powers. His resignation was the latest sign of building momentum for the opposition, which wants Ukraine to end what protesters see as their country’s subservience to Russia. |
| At the same time, Europe has stepped up efforts to play a role in Ukraine, with a procession of senior officials from Brussels traveling to Kiev this week to meet government and opposition leaders. Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, had been scheduled to visit Kiev later in the week but now will fly to Ukraine on Tuesday. | At the same time, Europe has stepped up efforts to play a role in Ukraine, with a procession of senior officials from Brussels traveling to Kiev this week to meet government and opposition leaders. Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, had been scheduled to visit Kiev later in the week but now will fly to Ukraine on Tuesday. |
| In previous trips to Ukraine, European officials have focused on trying to nudge Mr. Yanukovych into reviving the agreement he rejected in November in an about-face that inflamed antigovernment sentiments and set off large protests in Kiev. This week, they are working instead to mediate a political settlement to calm escalating tensions. | In previous trips to Ukraine, European officials have focused on trying to nudge Mr. Yanukovych into reviving the agreement he rejected in November in an about-face that inflamed antigovernment sentiments and set off large protests in Kiev. This week, they are working instead to mediate a political settlement to calm escalating tensions. |
| The opposition insists that any such settlement must include Mr. Yanukovych’s own departure from power. The European Union has avoided backing such demands but, in coded language, has indicated support for the protesters. Stefan Fule, the European commissioner for enlargement, said Tuesday during a visit to Kiev that Ukraine needs an “inclusive political process” and that “people’s aspirations must be at the heart of all the efforts.” | The opposition insists that any such settlement must include Mr. Yanukovych’s own departure from power. The European Union has avoided backing such demands but, in coded language, has indicated support for the protesters. Stefan Fule, the European commissioner for enlargement, said Tuesday during a visit to Kiev that Ukraine needs an “inclusive political process” and that “people’s aspirations must be at the heart of all the efforts.” |
| Russia has been largely sidelined from the political process in Kiev, gambling that Mr. Yanukovych could hang on to power, his position cemented by a Russian offer in December to provide Ukraine with $15 billion in credit and a sharp reduction in gas prices. | Russia has been largely sidelined from the political process in Kiev, gambling that Mr. Yanukovych could hang on to power, his position cemented by a Russian offer in December to provide Ukraine with $15 billion in credit and a sharp reduction in gas prices. |
| Dmitri Trenin, an authority on Russian foreign policy and the director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, a research group, said that Mr. Putin had bet heavily on Mr. Yanukovych’s staying power and was unlikely to budge from this position during his meetings in Brussels. “There will be no meeting of minds or any breakthrough,” Mr. Trenin predicted. | Dmitri Trenin, an authority on Russian foreign policy and the director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, a research group, said that Mr. Putin had bet heavily on Mr. Yanukovych’s staying power and was unlikely to budge from this position during his meetings in Brussels. “There will be no meeting of minds or any breakthrough,” Mr. Trenin predicted. |
| A radical political shift in Ukraine, he added, would be a setback for the Kremlin and would reinforce Mr. Putin’s view that Europe does not see Russia as an equal partner but only as a potential nuisance whose influence needs to be contained. But “this could also be a blessing in disguise for Russia,” Mr. Trenin said. “It can save $15 billion and leave Europe to pay.” | A radical political shift in Ukraine, he added, would be a setback for the Kremlin and would reinforce Mr. Putin’s view that Europe does not see Russia as an equal partner but only as a potential nuisance whose influence needs to be contained. But “this could also be a blessing in disguise for Russia,” Mr. Trenin said. “It can save $15 billion and leave Europe to pay.” |
| The prospect that Russia will cancel the assistance promised to Mr. Yanukovych in the event of a new government coming to power in Kiev, according to Mr. Emerson, the former envoy in Moscow, means that Europe now needs to work out quickly what it can offer beyond just words of encouragement. | The prospect that Russia will cancel the assistance promised to Mr. Yanukovych in the event of a new government coming to power in Kiev, according to Mr. Emerson, the former envoy in Moscow, means that Europe now needs to work out quickly what it can offer beyond just words of encouragement. |
| “If and when Yanukovych gets thrown out, the new administration will come to E.U. for help. Now is the time for us to step up our contribution,” said Mr. Emerson, now a senior research fellow at the Center for European Policy Studies, a Brussels-based research group. He noted that one possibility is for Europe to join the International Monetary Fund in financing a long-stalled assistance package for Ukraine. | “If and when Yanukovych gets thrown out, the new administration will come to E.U. for help. Now is the time for us to step up our contribution,” said Mr. Emerson, now a senior research fellow at the Center for European Policy Studies, a Brussels-based research group. He noted that one possibility is for Europe to join the International Monetary Fund in financing a long-stalled assistance package for Ukraine. |
| Even before the unrest in Kiev, Mr. Putin had curbed his once ardent calls for a common space embracing both the European Union and Russia, a vision first outlined before a wave of protests swept Russia after elections in 2011 that were widely viewed as fraudulent. Europe never showed much enthusiasm for Mr. Putin’s idea, seeing it as unrealistic and possibly just a ruse to secure easier visas for Russians who want to travel west. | Even before the unrest in Kiev, Mr. Putin had curbed his once ardent calls for a common space embracing both the European Union and Russia, a vision first outlined before a wave of protests swept Russia after elections in 2011 that were widely viewed as fraudulent. Europe never showed much enthusiasm for Mr. Putin’s idea, seeing it as unrealistic and possibly just a ruse to secure easier visas for Russians who want to travel west. |
| “Putin is far less optimistic now and he believes Russia has no chance of being taken seriously by Europeans,” Mr. Trenin said. “The idea is no longer Russia joining Europe as an associate. It is now a binary construct that includes the Eurasian Union and the European Union.” | “Putin is far less optimistic now and he believes Russia has no chance of being taken seriously by Europeans,” Mr. Trenin said. “The idea is no longer Russia joining Europe as an associate. It is now a binary construct that includes the Eurasian Union and the European Union.” |