Russia-West Relations: A Three-Step Blueprint For Renewed Cooperation

Since the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, Western policymakers have consistently described Russia-West tensions as an intractable conflict fuelled by decades of ideological resentments and competing strategic ambitions. The prevalence of new Cold War rhetoric in the highest echelons of political power, and the propensity of both Western and Russian policymakers to escalate tensions for political expediency has prevented substantive progress towards meaningful Russia-West cooperation.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime security has become increasingly intertwined with maintaining an anti-Western identity, and Western policymakers continue to deeply distrust Moscow’s intentions, the prospects of an imminent reconciliation or a marked improvement of bilateral relations over the next decade appear remote. Yet even as we progress along this pessimistic trajectory, there is still potential for meaningful collaboration.