The war on Ukraine is the latest manifestation of Russia's revisionist policy over the past decade. Russia has increasingly been using hybrid warfare tactics to assert its international position and gain 'strategic leverage'. Russia has used both non-conventional and conventional warfare tactics in conflicts in the EU's neighbourhood, in particular in Syria, Libya, Africa and in Ukraine. Prior to the ongoing war, Russia seized and illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and carried on a war in Donbass, recognising unilaterally, a couple of days before the invasion of Ukraine, the independence of the self-proclaimed independent republics of Luhansk and Donetsk. In this podcast, we’ll analyse the impact of Russia’s expansionism on the EU and different scenarios on Russia’s possible behaviour in the next years, up to 2030. #FutureShocks2022

EPRS policy podcast - Future shocks: Russia's brutal expansionism

In an unprecedented and unanimous reaction to Russia's war on Ukraine that began on 24 February 2022, the EU swiftly decided to make available €500 million from the European Peace Facility – followed soon after by additional financing – to fund EU military assistance and to deliver military equipment to Ukraine. For the first time in its history, the EU is now using a dedicated, although off-budget, tool to finance – but not to deliver, with that responsibility falling on Member States alone – lethal military equipment to a third country. This is a further update of a publication, the previous edition of which was released on 30 March 2022. UPDATE: Since the recording of this podcast, the EU has agreed to mobilise additional financing of military assistance to Ukraine amounting to €2 billion currently.

EPRS policy podcast - Russia's war on Ukraine: The EU's financing of military assistance to Ukraine

Following the post-Cold War reset, EU-Russia relations have been strained, not least by Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, to which the EU responded with hard-hitting sanctions. Putin’s support for rebel groups in eastern Ukraine, his policies in the neighbourhood, disinformation campaigns and Russia’s intervention in Syria just added fuel to the fire... And yet, the two remain closely interdependent… So, how to deal with Putin’s Russia?

EPRS policy podcast - The EU and Russia: Locked into confrontation

EU-Russia relations have been strained since 2014 because of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, support for rebel groups in eastern Ukraine, policies in the neighbourhood, disinformation campaigns and negative internal developments.

Russia has adopted assertive international positions and tensions have worsened over Russian intervention in Syria. The EU has regularly renewed sanctions against Russia since 2014. The EU and Russia remain closely interdependent and the EU applies a ‘selective engagement’ approach.

EU - Russia - 8th parliamentary term

EU-Russia relations have been strained since 2014 because of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, support for rebel groups in eastern Ukraine, policies in the neighbourhood, disinformation campaigns and negative internal developments. Tensions have also grown over Russian intervention in Syria. The EU has regularly renewed sanctions against Russia since 2014. The EU and Russia remain closely interdependent and the EU applies a ‘selective engagement’ approach.

EU - Russia (2019-2020)

EU-Russia relations have become increasingly strained over the past decade, not least because of the country's 2014 annexation of Crimea, the Kremlin’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s military intervention in Syria. Another source of tension is Russia’s disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks, as well as attempts to interfere in Western democratic processes and the arrest of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, EU economic sanctions target Russia’s financial, defence and energy sectors. Russia has responded with counter-sanctions.&nbsp;

The European Parliament (April plenary session) confirmed concern about Russian military posturing close to the country’s border with Ukraine as well as in illegally occupied Crimea. The EP resolution also deplored the revelation that Russian intelligence services set off the explosion of an arms depot in Vrbětice, Czechia, in 2014, in which two Czech citizens were killed. Parliament also reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

On 30 April Russia barred eight officials from European Union countries from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens by the EU. Russia's foreign ministry said those banned included Vera Jourova, vice president for values and transparency at the executive European Commission and David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament. Presidents of the European Council, Commission and Parliament condemned in a joint statement the imposition of restrictive measures targeting the EU by Russia as unacceptable and groundless.

During September&nbsp;vote in plenary Parliament said that&nbsp;the EU must push back against aggressive policies while laying the groundwork for cooperation with a future democratic Russia.&nbsp;Assessing the state of EU-Russia relations, the European Parliament made&nbsp;clear that it distinguishes between the Russian people and President Vladimir Putin’s regime.&nbsp;

EU - Russia

MEPs and EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas debate Russia’s manipulation of history and use of false narratives to justify its war in Ukraine.

The debate is likely to focus on Russian historical disinformation narratives to discredit and undermine international support for Ukraine, efforts which are intended to hurt Ukrainian independence and sovereignty.

Debate on Russian disinformation on Ukraine

MEPs reaffirm their strong support for Ukraine and criticise the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, in a resolution.

When addressing the European Parliament on Tuesday 19 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “Putin has brought 11,000 North Korean troops to Ukraine’s border” (...) and that “the contingent may grow to 100,0000”. Many of these troops have recently been reported as having been deployed as part of Russia’s airborne units and marines in the Kursk region, another growing sign of the increasing military cooperation between the regimes in Moscow and Pyongyang.

A statement issued by Parliament’s leaders on 19 November 2024 called on the EU to “step up support for Ukraine in every way, including politically, financially, militarily and with humanitarian aid” and reiterated that “we stand with and support Ukraine in every possible way until its victory.”

Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia

MEPs debate the consequences of the undemocratic presidential elections in Russia on 18 March, including their illegitimate extension to the occupied Ukrainian territories.

Plenary Debate - Russia´s undemocratic presidential elections

Parliament commemorates the life of Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, featuring a plenary address by his wife Yulia Navalnaya.

Alexei Navalny, one of Russia’s most well-known anti-corruption activists, an opposition politician, 2021 Sakharov Prize laureate and an ardent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died under mysterious circumstances in a remote penal colony in the Russian Arctic on Friday 16 February, while serving a long prison sentence on trumped-up charges.

Plenary debate - Address by Yulia Navalnaya

EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) exchange views on the inhuman detention and death of Alexei NAVALNY, 2021 Sakharov Price Laureate.

MEPs also discuss the state of Russia’s democratic opposition movement ahead of the country’s presidential elections scheduled for 15-17 March 2024, as well as the situation of all those Russian opposition voices currently behind bars.

The following guests give testimonies to MEPs: Leonid Volkov, Chief of staff of Alexei Navalny, Anti-Corruption Foundation: Evgenia Kara-Murza, Advocacy Director at the Free Russia Foundation, wife of political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza: Vladimir Milov, Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, former Vice-Minister of Energy of Russia

AFET/DROI debate on Alexei Navalny´s death

EP Plenary session - Need to detect and to counter sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea

EP Plenary session - Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - EU actions against the Russian shadow fleets and ensuring a full enforcement of sanctions against Russia

Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee Constitutive meeting

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Council and Commission statements - New allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, in the upcoming EU elections and the impact on the Union

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Commission Statement - Russia's undemocratic presidential elections and their illegitimate extension to the occupied territories

EP Plenary session  - Return of Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia

EP Plenary session - Question Time (Commission) - Preparedness of EU governments to combat foreign interference, including from Russia

EP Plenary session - Address by Yulia Navalnaya

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Yulia NAVALNAYA, Alexei NAVALNY's wife

AFET DROI joint meeting - Inhuman detention and death of Sakharov Price Laureate Alexei Navalny

Flowers lay outside the EP headquarters in Brussels, following the death of Alexei NAVALNY, 2021 Sakharov Price Laureate

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union

EP Plenary session - Recent developments at the EU’s external border between Finland and Russia and the need to uphold EU law - Council and Commission statements

EP Plenary session - Effectiveness of the EU sanctions on Russia

SEDE Workshop on the ' role of cyber in the Russian war against Ukraine '

Full-size replica of Sakharov Prize laureate Alexey Navalny’s prison cell

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate (15/09) and vote a resolution on the situation in Russia and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny.

Situation in Russia, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny: extract from the debate (15/09) and from the final vote

During the plenary session (14-17 September 2020) in the European Parliament in Brussels, Ursula VON DER LEYEN delivers the State of the European Union (SOTEU 2020) before the MEPs. In the fourth part of her speech VON DER LEYEN focused on digitization and the EU foreing affairs strategy with a particular attention on EU-China relationships, current situation in Belarus, the respect of the withdrawal agreement by the United Kingdom and Western Balkans enlargement. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Part 4/5 - State of the European Union debate: Opening statement by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission (Foreign Affairs and Human Rights)

In a series of debates with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep BORRELL during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs comment on the situation in Russia and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. A resolutions will be put to the vote.

Situation in Russia, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session (16-19 December 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, such as violations of human rights including religious freedoms in Burkina Faso, the allegations of sexual abuse of boys in the Logar Province in Afghanistan, and the Russian "Foreign Agents" Law. Statements by Assita KANKO (ECR, BE), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President, Kati PIRI (S&D, NL), Anna FOTYGA (ECR, PL) and Antony HOOK (RE, UK).

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debates

Oleg SENTSOV was interviewed in Kiev (Ukraine) on the 19 November 2019. He speaks on the Sakharov Prize, his current and future activities, his call for the liberation of the remaining political prisoners in Russia,...

Interview by Oleg SENTSOV, Sakharov Prize 2018: extracts

During the plenary session (15-18/07) of he European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law such as the situation in Hong Kong; the situation at the USA-Mexican border; and Russia, notably the situation of environmental activists and Ukrainian political prisoners. Statements by Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), Antony HOOK (RE, UK), Miguel URBÁN CRESPO (GUE/NGL, ES), Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), Dita CHARANZOVÁ, Vice-President of the EP, Anna FOTYGA (ECR, PL), Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT), and Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management.

Antonio TAJANI, EP President, opens the plenary session (11-14 March 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Statement on the aircraft accident in Ethiopia, on the anniversaries of the terrorist attacks in Madrid on 11 March 2004 and the annexation of Crimea in February 2014 and on the situation in Venezuela (electricity blackout for several days).

Introductory remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

During the meeting of the EP Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) jointly with the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), MEPs participate in the exchange of views on the security situation in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Security situation in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait: extracts from the exchange of views in EP SEDE Subcommittee jointly with the AFET Committee

Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro, Social Dialogue, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, gives the position of the European Commission on the political situation in Ukraine in a context of tension with Russia, during the plenary session (28-29/11/2018) of the European Parliament in Brussels

Position of the European Commission on the political situation in Ukraine: statement by Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro, Social Dialogue, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Antonio TAJANI, EP President, opens the plenary session (28-29/11/2018) in Brussels, speaking about the political situation in Ukraine in a context of tension after Russia seized Ukraine naval ships, calling on the Russian authorities to meet their obligations and release those who were arrested.

Introductory remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on the political situation in Ukraine

During the plenary session of the European Parliament (11-14 June 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on Georgian occupied territories ten years after the Russian invasion.

Georgian occupied territories ten years after the Russian invasion: extracts from the vote

During the plenary session (11-14 June 2018) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Georgian occupied territories, ten years after the Russian invasion. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Victor BOŞTINARU (S&D, RO) and Javier NART (ALDE, ES).

Georgian occupied territories - ten years after the Russian invasion: extracts from the debate

During the EP plenary session (28-31 May 2018) in Strasbourg, Antonio TAJANI makes a statement on Arkadi BABTCHENKO, Russian journalist killed in Kiev and also on the case of Bill BROWDER, Uk citizen, formerly American citizen, arrested in Spain on the basis of an international arrest warrant and freed after short time.

Statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on Arkadi BABTCHENKO, Russian journalist killed in Kiev and on Bill BROWDER, British citizen shortly arrested in Spain on a Russian arrest warrant and freed

Statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President before the former sitting, on the Russia's opposition journalist Arkady Babchenko shot dead in Kiev and the freedom of press in Russia.

Statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on the murder of the Russian journalist in Kiev

During the EP plenary session (16- 19 April 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the situation in Russia. Statements by Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Anna Elżbieta FOTYGA (ECR, PL), Petras AUSTREVICIUS (ALDE, LT) and Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE).

Situation in Russia: extracts from the debate

Ahead of the European Summit (22-23 March 2018), Socialist leaders meet at the Albert Hall, in Brussels. Arrival of Udo BULLMANN, Frans TIMMERMMANS, Pierre MOSCOVICI, Fofi GENNIMATA, Alexis TSIPRAS, Jean ASSELBORN, Joseph MUSCAT, Antonio COSTA, Stefan LÖFVEN and Federica MOGHERINI. Statements by Udo BULLMANN (S&D, DE) and Pierre MOSCOVICI, Member of the EC in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs.

Socialist leaders meet ahead of the European Summit: arrivals and statements

Ahead of the European Summit (22-23 March 2018), EPP leaders meet at the Académie Royale de Belgique, in Brussels. Arrival of Joseph DAUL, Viktor ORBAN, Manfred WEBER, Adrian DELIA, Michel BARNIER, Leo VARADKAR, Grzegorz SCHETYNA, Nicos ANASTASIADES, Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Donald TUSK, Johannes HAHN, Marianne THYSSEN, Boyko BORISSOV, Jean Claude JUNCKER, EC President, Klaus IOHANNIS and Angela MERKEL. Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE).

EPP leaders meet ahead of the European Summit: arrivals and statements

Ahead of the European Summit (22-23 March 2018), ALDE leaders meet at the Egmont Palace, in Brussels. Arrival of Juha SIPILÄ, Juri RATAS, Andrej BABIS, Margrethe VESTAGER, Vera JOUROVA, Cecilia MALMSTRÖM and Mark RUTTE. Statements by Hans van BAALEN (ALDE, NL) and Andrej BABIS, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.

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