Sweden has accused Russia of waging an economic war against former Soviet republics that are considering establishing stronger trade relations with the European Union. Therefore, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt believes that a strategy should be created to counter this by the Union.
This concerns Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova, with which Brussels plans to sign trade agreements, and a similar one is being prepared with Ukraine. Closer economic ties with Europe would signify a clear break for Eastern European countries from their Soviet past, and such plans have raised concerns in Russia about the decline of its historical influence in the region.
Bildt told the meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius that Russia has exploited the international focus on Syria to quietly exert pressure on its neighbors.
