The EU sees post-Soviet countries as a springboard for harming Russia: Bordachev

Timofey Bordachev, professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics and academic director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS) at HSE University, spoke to Alpha News and answered the question of whether the upcoming visit of the Russian president to Beijing is connected to the recent trip to China by US President Donald Trump.

“I do not think there is a direct connection. But there is a connection, since China, Russia, and the United States are the three global superpowers, the three largest and most powerful countries in the world in military and political terms. Therefore, whatever is said in the dialogue between any two of them, for example, between China and the US, is in any case relevant to the China–Russia or Russia–US dialogue. This triangle exists. And Trump’s visit was also connected to the upcoming visit of the Russian president,” he said.

According to Bordachev, the Russophobia of European politicians is tied to the justification of rising military expenditure.

“Because they are cutting social spending and increasing military spending, convincing their citizens of its necessity by claiming that a conflict with Russia is imminent. If you begin preparing for war with someone for your own domestic purposes, it can actually happen. Such a tragedy is possible,” he said, adding that the leading European countries view the post-Soviet states as a springboard for inflicting damage on Russia.