From The Washington Post:MOSCOW (Reuters) - This week's EU-Russia summit is expected to bring little real progress on issues such as trade, security and energy after a New Year gas row and last August's Georgia war extinguished hopes of warmer post-Putin ties.
"You will see uncomfortable silences and frozen smiles, if we get out of Khabarovsk with minimal damage, even without any breakthrough, this would be enough," said one European diplomat familiar with the preparations for the summit in eastern Russia.
The low expectations contrast with the near euphoric treatment of incoming President Dmitry Medvedev by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU foreign policy envoy Javier Solana at last June's summit in Siberia.
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My Comment: The Georgian War gave everyone a bad taste when it came to EU - Russian relations. But Russian support for Iran's nuclear program, an arms buildup, and cutting off gas supplies in the middle of winter made the situation worse.
Russia is being Russia. One part wants to be with Europe .... another part still wants to have that sense of independence when it comes to European affairs. For this weeks summit .... Russia's priorities will be Russian .... not European.
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