Putin tries to divide the European Union

The first visit to the European Union of Putin, after his re-election, took place in Austria. In the strategy of the Russian leader there is the will to seek a solution to put an end to the European sanctions against Moscow, sanctions that damage the economy of the country because Europe is Russia's trading partner. The visit to Vienna is not accidental, even if Austria is not a relevant country, like Germany or France, it will hold the next European presidency and will thus favor the resumption of dialogue between Brussels and Moscow, precisely with the intention of pursue a policy contrary to sanctions against Russia. But there is also a further objective of Putin and provides for a well-defined project; that of dividing the European Union, crossed by deep contrasts and where the presence of skeptical movements towards a united Europe favors the action of the Russian leader to try to diminish the American influence on the old continent. The current conditions, for these intentions, are historically the most favorable, given that the populist movements have repeatedly expressed their appreciation to Putin and his mode of political action. The divisions between Western and Eastern Europe also allow Putin more room for maneuver. Putin risks, wrongly, being recognized as the champion of state sovereignty against the invasion of European institutions, forgetting how Russia is in effect an oligarchy where civil rights are limited and freedom of the press and therefore of criticism , is undergoing considerable limitations. The scheme that Putin applies in international politics is to enter the scenario from which he wants to derive advantages in a direct way, taking advantage of the opportunities that the contingent situation provides; so the current objective is to divide the European Union to create a situation favorable to Russia, where Moscow is recognized, even if not officially, a sort of leader to refer to, thanks to the proximity common values ​​such as nationalism and a strong political leadership, less bound by parliamentary rules. That the countries of the former Soviet bloc, which are now in Europe, undergo an almost magnetic attraction to Russia is well explained by the political provenance of the parties that govern them, applies to all the Hungarian example, where there is an analogy with the Russia on the compression of rights and the increasing limitation to freedom of the press. It would seem less understandable that the success that Putin collects in the extreme right-wing Italian, French and other Western countries, if not, with the common low consideration of the democratic values ​​of the Western European tradition. On the other hand, Russia has tried, and partly has succeeded, to influence more than one political election, through funding and the misuse of computer networks. These means have similarities with the use of military force in Crimea and Syria and represent contempt for national sovereignty and for failure to comply with international law. Probably the real target of Putin is to weaken the European leadership of Germany and France, the states that, in addition to having the greatest political weight in Europe, are also those who fiercely oppose Russian action to increase the influence of Moscow in the Union area. Putin also has on his side a very effective blackmail weapon, represented by the ability to supply Europe with Russian gas. In 2017 the maximum quantity supplied by Russia to the European Union was recorded, which continues to depend heavily on Moscow for its energy needs; even if an interruption of supply is not likely, because the high-value currency with which European countries pay is vital for the Russian economy, temporary interruptions could become an instrument through which to blackmail the states of Europe.