Tensions in Russia and the EU have reached a new low following Lavrov’s comments in Moscow

LONDON – A recent press conference between the EU’s top diplomat and Russia’s veteran foreign minister has shown that diplomatic ties have fallen to a new low, prompting some analysts to question whether the “humiliating” trip could lead to political consequences additional.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visited Moscow on Friday to express opposition to the arrest of Alexei Navalny, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Borrell failed to reject the comments of his Russian counterpart when he sat next to him at the press conference. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the EU is a “reliable partner”.

In addition, Borrell learned via Twitter during his visit that Russia had expelled three EU diplomats for participating in demonstrations in support of Navalny.

“My meeting with Minister Lavrov emphasized that Europe and Russia are moving away. It seems that Russia is gradually disconnecting from Europe,” Borrell said in a blog post two days after the press conference. He described it as “a very complicated visit to Moscow.”

His controversial trip was so poorly received that a group of 73 MEPs said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “should take action if Borrell does not resign on his own initiative”. In a joint letter, they said Borrell had failed to “support the interests and values ​​of the European Union during his visit”, which had caused “serious damage to the EU’s reputation”.

EU-Russia ties have been fragile over time, but their ties are critical, given their common economic, energy and strategic interests.

Jade McGlynn, a researcher at the Henry Jackson Society think tank, described the EU-Russia relationship as “cold fuel” following Borrell’s trip to Moscow. “The EU does not have an adequate strategy for Russia. There is no point in being reset with Russia when Russia does not want it,” she said.

Both sides sought to improve their trade, energy and anti-terrorism ties, among others, before 2014. In this context, the EU supported Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization, which ended in 2012.

However, the Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014 was a turning point in their relationship. The EU opposed this measure and consequently imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and companies.

Their ties were further destroyed by Russia’s intervention in the protracted war in Syria and other conflicts in the Middle East. In addition, several constitutional reforms in Russia have raised concerns among European officials, including one that allows Putin to remain in power beyond his current term.

“Their relationship has always been difficult,” Ian Lesser, vice president of The German Marshall Fund in the United States, told CNBC, noting that ties are now “only deteriorating on several fronts.”

As a result, Lesser expects “more pressure on the North (project) flow, including from Washington DC”

Nord Stream 2 is a natural gas pipeline running from Russia to Germany and, once completed, would double the flow of energy resources between the two, according to Deutsche Welle.

The bill has been sharply criticized, including by the United States, which has imposed sanctions on companies working on the pipeline – a position the new US presidency does not intend to change overnight. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that Joe Biden’s administration is against the project.

Some MEPs also believe that Nord Stream 2 should be stopped in response to Russia’s Navalny poisoning. Before returning to Russia last month, Navalny had returned to Germany after narrowly surviving what was confirmed independent of poisoning by a nervous agent Novichok in August. 20. The Kremlin denies Navalny’s poisoning.

“I can imagine it’s very disappointing” for the United States to attend Friday’s press conference in Moscow, McGlynn said by phone. She added that the US is probably wondering “do we have a reliable partner who can withstand Russia?”