EU, ex-Soviet states push ties in face of ‘hostile’ Russia

BRUSSELS: Leaders from the EU and six former Soviet states gathered in Brussels on Friday to discuss deepening ties, with worries about Russian influence looming and thorny subjects like the war in Ukraine off the official agenda.
The set-piece will focus on 20 “deliverables” — plans to help Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus tackle corruption, improve the rule of law and modernise their economies. Brussels insists its so-called Eastern Partnership with the six states is “not aimed at any country”, but the likes of Moldova and Ukraine have urged the European Union to send a welcoming signal to their people to counter the siren call of Moscow. Concerns are running high in Europe over the Kremlin’s use of cyber tactics and misinformation to cause political destabilisation around the continent and draw former Soviet states into its embrace.
As she arrived for the summit British Prime Minister Theresa May warned that Europe needed to be on guard against “the actions of hostile states like Russia which... attempt to tear our collective strength apart”. And German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU’s partnership with the six states was “very important for our own security”, without mentioning Russia specifically. Moscow regards the countries as part of its sphere of influence and has opposed them getting closer to the EU.