Russia and the West: Yesterday’s Enemies

Abstract

The bipolar world ended with the end of the Cold War which paved the way for a period of détente and relaxation of tension between Russia and the West, especially the United States (US). In that changed international environment both Russia and the US made efforts to redefine their relationship based on mutual respect which resulted in a friendly relationship. A major outcome of this understanding was the reunification of Germany, building of the Nord Stream gas pipeline and an understanding about arms control and disarmament. However this cooperation began to erode as the Western countries made their moves eastwards through inviting Eastern European countries to join the European Union (EU) Many of them became its members and also of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).

These moves came under criticism from Russia but Russia could not take a strong action, at that time, because of its weak economic position and as it was faced with post-Soviet problems. However, after President Vladimir Putin assumed power in Russia, his economic policies boomed and he emerged as a strong leader and began to play an active and assertive role at the international level. He was seen as a threat in the West and this threat perception of the West led to the Ukraine war, conflict over the Nord Stream gas pipeline and failure of the arms control and disarmament agreements. This situation is reflected in President Putin’s statement in which he called the West ‘enemies of yesterday’. This paper attempts to analyze the circumstances and causes, of the mistrust and lack of understanding, that obstructs the relationship to develop between Russia and the West.