How the West can contain – and end – the conflict in Ukraine

As it increases its support for Ukraine, the West should try to show Russia that it too can benefit from Ukraine’s economic integration with the West. The EU should work with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, giving Ukraine, which is not a member of the EAEU, the chance to benefit from its free trade agreement with the EU and to rebuild economic links with Russia and other EAEU members. Given good economic relations between Ukraine and China, there may be scope to lower trade barriers between Russia and Ukraine in the broader context of linking together the EU, the EAEU and China’s One Belt One Road initiative.

ESO: Background information: The great unravelling: four doomsday scenarios for Europe’s Russia policy (ECFR: Policy Brief, June 2017 et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-great-unravelling-four-doomsday-scenarios-for-europes-russia-policy/

ESO: Background information: the Donblas blockade: Another blow to the Minsk peace process http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-donbas-blockade-another-blow-to-the-minsk-peace-process/

ESO: Background information: Russia and security http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-and-security-what-think-tanks-are-thinking/

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