INTERVIEW WITH VLADIMIR CHIZHOV, RUSSIA' AMBASSADOR TO EU : 'OUR RELATIONS ARE NOT DEVOID OF PROBLEMS, BUT NONE ARE INSURMOUNTABLE'.

• Position: Interview

Against the backdrop of a deteriorating political situation in Ukraine, Russia's Ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, explains to Europolitics Moscow's take on the recent developments in Kyiv. He claims that the anti-government demonstrations have turned into an extremely violent movement led by extreme nationalists, over whom the opposition has no control. The developments in Ukraine, according to Chizhov, should not in any way overshadow the EU-Russia summit, which is to take place on 28 January in Brussels. Discussing the state of Moscow's relations with the EU, he suggests that despite the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, the Union is still unable to speak with one voice to Russia.

How would you characterise the current state of Russia's relations with the EU?

The overall state of Russia-EU relations is actually better than your less scrupulous colleagues tend to portray. We are closely linked by economic ties, with trade exchange totalling approximately a billion euro a day. Russia is the EU's third trade partner and the EU is Russia's number one. But it is not only about the economy. We have more than a dozen sectoral dialogues, ranging from space to illegal migration. This is a very thick network. Having said this, I wouldn't claim we do not have any problems. But you cannot find any strategic partnership that is free of problems. China is a strategic partner for the EU. I'm sure that you wouldn't say that this relationship is unproblematic. The same applies to EU-US relations.

Asked the same question, the Europeans are much more negative. They currently talk about "stagnation," "mistrust," "long list of irritants," or "Moscow's assertive diplomatic use of energy". What is the reason for such a different perception by the two sides?

The problem is that there are certain misperceptions and stereotypes in some people's way of thinking. These are reflected in public statements and media publications. Again, our relations are not devoid of problems, but none of them is unsurmountable. We have a fairly developed network of mechanisms for cooperation, which allows us to resolve problematic issues. What we witness is that in spite of obvious practical interests, the EU is incapable in some cases of acting because of a lack of political will on its side. The European Commission says it is not them, the member states blame the Commission - and it goes like this in circles.

Hasn't the situation improved after the appointment of the...