ISTRA (Moscow Region), September 28. /TASS/. Russia’s approach to relations with European countries remains stable and is not aggressive at all, Andrey Bystritsky, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club, has said.
"Russia’s approach to Europe is quite stable, and it is absolutely not aggressive. Moreover - and the Russian president has repeatedly emphasized this - we see radical aggression coming from Europe in this regard. Rather, one should expect greater common sense from them," the expert said in response to a TASS question ahead of the 23rd annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club.
According to Bystritsky, recent election results in European countries have caused concern among Europeans themselves, as they point to what he described as "a tragic and very dangerous gap between the ruling elites and the population."
"In any case, things are not going well there," he added.
At the same time, Bystritsky noted that certain aspects of relations between Russia and Europe are gradually changing.
"Contextually, in my view, Russia is turning towards the East; it has become more deeply engaged in contacts with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In this sense, the context of Russian-European relations has changed," he explained.
Bystritsky added that Russia maintains contacts with Europe regardless of circumstances, but its position and approach increasingly reflect greater engagement with a new agenda centered on the Global South.
"This shift does not imply any radical changes, but contextually and gradually, of course, it has an impact," the expert emphasized. "Russia is increasingly deepening its ties with countries in Asia, Africa and the Global South, and this is creating a new context for its relations with Europe as well," he concluded.