Previously countries in the EU, new members Poland etc, took a hostile attitude to Russia. In defense policy and every other policy. As a reaction the Russian elites concentrated their efforts(political but also economic) on certain countries Germany, France and Italy. But now they are trapped by their previous expediency. As long as Russia's relations with the EU are neutral to poor Germany, France and Italy will remain the prime conduits for Russian political influence in EU affairs. And the cost of maintaining this political pipeline through France,Germany and Italy will be trade deals with these countries. These three countries now have an economic incentive to ensure EU/Russian relations stay Bad To The Bone. Perhaps Germany is wealthy enough to sacrifice this advantage France and Italy need every extra Euro they can get.

The name of the game is disarming Russia and robing her of natural resources. It is much more appealing and affordable to do it without the use of arms. Here they is still training their citizenry that Russians and Slavs in general are subhuman species.

Srbin but the Russian elite are playing the leading role in this? Are they not?

I disagree Babeouf. Economic ties between Russia and Germany, France, Italy and others is good for all countries concerned and better relations between Russia and the EU and NATO will only increase ties. To trade they need to communicate and interact. Just look at the US and Cuba... the sanctions have crippled Cuba, but have also forced them to look elsewhere for friends and allies. If the US had simply accepted what Castro did (ie pinch Cubas assets back from US based Mob (ie organised crime groups)) then by now the US would be back in there and owning most things available to be owned and demanding to own more. PR101 What Medvedev wants to happen and what the US and the Nazis in the baltic republics lets happen is another question. You don't think Europe will agree to anything that doesn't suit them do you? Why would they change now? For the US the reset was supposed to me Russia lets the US big business into the Russian market to buy up everything of value at low prices.

October 21, 2010, 00:14, PR101 wrote > Srbin > but the Russian elite are playing the leading role in this? Are they not? ==================== Correct, Russian elite as are elites in every and all societies is interested in one and ONE thing only, making money, maximizing profits and minimizing the cost of production. France is a current example what the new ideology of globalism is all about, I am sure you have heard whispers of "reforming" health care and pension policies in Canada. The point I was making is that Anglo-American + Satraps elites have racial hatred towards Russians and other Slavs who refuse to partake in the new ideology of the world.

GaryB there is a misunderstanding here. Good relations with Germany and France might mean bad relations with the EU as an institution. The small Baltic states and others outside the Golden Circle may have governments that got elected on an implicit or explicit anti Russian agenda. And they can delay of frustrate the efforts(such as they are) of larger states to put EU/Russian relations onto a rational basis. And outside Europe the elites in the USA recognize that NATO works as a vehicle for the military hegemony of the USA in Europe only so long as Russia is excluded. Now it may be that this post Cold War exclusion of Russia is coming to an end. But that isn't because of goodwill on the part of the USA. But because the elites in the USA intend to correct the problems in their domestic economy by flooding the world with US dollars and collapsing its exchange rate. And this will have a devastating impact on the economies of the Euro zone(their export markets will disappear as imports from the USA explode upwards). The groundswell for a new relationship with Russia in many European governments is a direct product of their desire to cut defense expenditures and build new export outlets.