| Summary/Abstract |
The crisis in Ukraine, and over Ukraine, has strained Russia’s relations with the West to breaking point. For the first time in 25 years, there is a threat of a new dividing line being drawn in Europe, which, since the end of the East–West confrontation, has been considered the world’s most stable region. The current crisis stems from the tension of a polycentric world order in which the hierarchy of power is changing very quickly.1 The countries of the European Union, experiencing a prolonged recession coupled with a crisis of integration, and the United States, still faced with the painful experience of lost wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, have neglected to take into account the new Russia’s mindset and integrationist interests. Fifteen years ago, during the Yugoslavian crisis, Russia was experiencing a sharp transformation – and even a sovereign default – and did not have the resources to defend its interests. By 2014, the situation had changed. This important development was disregarded by the West in providing unconditional support for the change of regime in Kiev, resulting in unexpected consequences. Looking back, one cannot help but conclude that both Russia and the West bear responsibility for the mistakes and miscalculations that have resulted in their most serious crisis in relations.
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