Russia - West. Struggle for influence A look from the outside on the Russian narrative

Abstract

The article analyses the relations between Russia and the West for almost three decades - from the moment of the collapse of the USSR to the present day. Russia openly opposes the Western world and its democratic model, value systems, and cultural codes. There are several stages of Russia's foreign policy towards the United States and Western Europe. Russia's initial positive attitude towards Western politics soon ended in disappointment. It became clear that although earlier international stability was ensured by the military parity of the two competing systems, after the collapse of the USSR, one economy became the basis for this stabilization. Few reckoned with a weakened Russia, although at that time the Kremlin wanted, together with other powers, to solve global problems. Improving the economic situation and paying off the external debt became a priority for Russia, which was possible due to the good conjuncture of the fuel market. Russia has become completely independent from the West, deprived of an instrument of financial pressure, has ceased to accept the status of a weak state, to which in the 1990s others could dictate conditions and ignore its voice. After the annexation of Crimea, the European Union condemns Moscow's actions, while realizing at the same time that the Russian Federation is its strategic partner. Both sides are closely linked by energy interests. Faced with the sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea, Russia is trying to find alternative priorities for its political and economic activities in Asia. The article presents a broad analytical framework for determining Russia's position among world players and identifying the instruments of the struggle for influence between the Russian Federation and the West.