Omar Bennett
Russia's foreign relations are guided by the country's policy arm, which steers its interactions with other nations, their citizens, and foreign organizations. Russia's approach to conflict management can be described as a form of coercive diplomacy, mixing peace talks with power politics. Russia has no diplomatic relations with Ukraine, Georgia, Bhutan, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Solomon Islands. However, it maintains positive relations with several countries, including Brazil, India, and Vietnam, and has engaged in notable conflicts with its neighbors, such as Ukraine. Russia's diplomacy in international conflicts supports its strategic goals and provides it with a seat at the table during major international security discussions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic relations | Russia has no diplomatic relations with Ukraine, Georgia, Bhutan, Federated States of Micronesia, and Solomon Islands |
| Positive relations | Brazil, Honduras, India, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Hungary, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates |
| Eurasianism | A school of thought that asserts Russia is composed of Slavic, Turkic, and Asiatic cultures |
| Conflict management approach | Coercive diplomacy, a combination of peace talks with power politics |
| Goal in conflicts | To stop the fighting, not to transform societies |
| Role in international conflicts | A diplomatic broker and mediator |
| War diplomacy aim | To weaken the "collective West" at the global level and halt external support for Ukraine |
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What You'll Learn
Russia's diplomatic relations with Ukraine
In the post-Soviet era, Ukraine's relationship with Russia has been characterized by energy dependence, disputes over gas supplies, and conflicting geopolitical orientations. Ukraine's attempts to forge closer ties with the European Union (EU) and NATO have been a significant source of tension with Russia, which seeks to maintain its influence in the region. In 2013, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to back out of signing an integration agreement with the EU sparked civil unrest and ultimately led to the Revolution of Dignity. Russia took advantage of this instability to annex Crimea in 2014, an action that Ukraine continues to oppose, claiming sovereignty over the territory.
Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support for quasi-separatist forces in the Donbas region have further strained relations with Ukraine. Russia has also exerted its influence through economic sanctions and by fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine. In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine cut diplomatic relations with Russia entirely.
Despite the ongoing conflict, there have been efforts to negotiate peace and manage the conflict diplomatically. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cautiously approached peace talks, seeking to balance relations between Russia and Western powers. Russia, for its part, has engaged in a form of coercive diplomacy, combining peace talks with displays of military power.
Overall, Russia's diplomatic relations with Ukraine have been marked by historical complexities, competing geopolitical interests, and periodic military conflicts. While there have been periods of improved relations, the ongoing war and Ukraine's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Russia indicate a significant breakdown in their diplomatic relationship.
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Russia's conflict diplomacy
Russia has also offered its services as a diplomatic mediator in conflicts where it has no military forces, such as in the Middle East, mediating in the civil war in Yemen and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2019, Russia advanced a Gulf Collective Security proposal, offering a regional peace proposal to complement its national-level initiatives. While these initiatives have not produced significant results, they demonstrate Russia's willingness to play a wider political and diplomatic role in the region.
Additionally, Russia's conflict diplomacy aligns with its self-conception of how a Great Power and UN Security Council member should act. In Moscow's realist worldview, Great Powers have additional rights and responsibilities for peace and security, particularly in their sphere of influence. Russia's diplomacy in the context of the Ukrainian invasion, for example, involves adapting its means of warfare to the military realities of the neighbouring country, exerting pressure through repeated threats of nuclear escalation, and aiming to isolate and weaken the West within the international system.
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Russia's foreign policy goals
One of the primary goals of Russia's foreign policy is to establish and maintain its influence in the global arena, particularly in its neighbouring regions. This includes a focus on asserting dominance over nearby nations and establishing a Russian sphere of influence within the Commonwealth of Independent States. Russia's involvement in various regional conflicts, such as those in Syria, Libya, and Ukraine, can be understood in this context, as it seeks to expand and consolidate its geopolitical influence.
Russia's foreign policy also reflects a desire to shape a new world order, challenging the existing rules-based international system and the dominance of the United States and its NATO partners. This is evident in its pursuit of a multipolar world, where Russia would be one of the key poles of power, and its criticism of what it perceives as the monopolistic dominance of the United States in global relations. Russia's relationships with countries like China, Iran, Iraq, and India can be seen as part of a strategy to balance Western power and foster divisions within the Western alliance.
Another key aspect of Russia's foreign policy is its commitment to protecting Russians and establishing ties with Russian compatriots abroad. This includes providing support and ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of Russian citizens and entities living outside of Russia, as well as promoting the preservation of Russian cultural identity. This goal has been used to justify certain actions, such as the invasion of Ukraine, which Russia framed as a defence of Russian speakers and allies in the region.
Additionally, Russia has expressed a commitment to international law and a democratic multipolar world, even as it has been characterised as an autocratic state by Western media and politicians. Russia's proposals, such as those related to the prevention of weapons deployment in outer space and the enrichment of uranium, reflect a desire to strengthen the system of international law. However, Russia's actions and statements often contradict these proposals, creating a complex and nuanced dynamic in its foreign relations.
Overall, Russia's foreign policy goals are shaped by a combination of geopolitical interests, power dynamics, and a realist worldview. While Russia seeks to assert its influence and challenge existing power structures, it also aims to promote its national interests and protect its citizens and allies, even as it navigates complex relationships with Western powers and seeks to establish itself as a key player in international affairs.
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Russia's diplomatic relations with the West
Historically, Russia and the West, particularly the United States, have had periods of both cooperation and conflict. Formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia were established in 1809 but were interrupted after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Normal diplomatic relations were resumed in 1933, and following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States sought to facilitate cooperation with Russia and promote its integration into European and global institutions.
However, in recent years, Russia's relations with the West have been characterized by increasing tensions and conflicts. Russia's annexation of Crimea and violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity have led to sanctions and strained relations with Western countries, particularly the United States and the European Union. Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has further isolated it from the West, with the United Nations demanding a full withdrawal of Russian forces, supported by a significant number of countries.
Russia's approach to conflict management, known as coercive diplomacy, combines peace talks with power politics. This approach differs from many Western liberal approaches, as it is highly context-specific and based on power dynamics. Russia's goal in conflict resolution is to introduce political order, respecting and promoting its national interests, rather than seeking social transformation or democratization.
Despite the tensions, there have been efforts to improve relations between Russia and the West. For example, during the Iraq disarmament crisis in 2002-2003, Russia opposed the US move to invade Iraq without a United Nations Security Council resolution. Additionally, Russia has maintained positive relations with some Western-aligned countries, such as Hungary, Serbia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. Russia has also offered its services as a diplomatic mediator in various conflicts, including in the Middle East and South Asia, demonstrating its willingness to engage diplomatically with the West.
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Russia's diplomatic role in international conflicts
Russia has been actively engaged in international conflicts, with its foreign relations guided by the country's foreign policy arm. Russia's diplomatic role in international conflicts has been influenced by various factors, including its pursuit of geopolitical opportunities, ideological shifts, and a desire for international recognition.
One of Russia's strategic tools has been its ability to leverage diplomacy to advance its geopolitical interests in regional conflicts. Russia has been a key player in conflicts across various regions, including the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. In the Middle East, Russia has offered its diplomatic services in the civil war in Yemen, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the Afghan conflict. Additionally, Russia's military intervention in Syria in 2015 significantly impacted the outcome of the conflict, bolstering the Assad regime. Russia's involvement in these conflicts has positioned it as a pivotal power in the Middle East's conflict resolution processes.
Russia's approach to conflict management is often described as coercive diplomacy, blending peace talks with power politics. The goal is to introduce a minimum level of political order, aligning with Russia's geopolitical interests rather than seeking societal transformation. This approach is highly context-specific, taking into account local and regional power dynamics. Russia's diplomatic engagement in regional conflicts provides leverage in its relations with other powers, such as maintaining an edge in bilateral relations with Turkey.
Russia's foreign policy has also been influenced by the school of thought known as Eurasianism, which asserts that Russia is composed of Slavic, Turkic, and Asiatic cultures. This ideology has become the official policy under Vladimir Putin's government, and Russia has engaged in notable conflicts, including with Ukraine. Putin has made critical statements about the foreign policies of the United States and other Western countries, proposing initiatives for a democratic multipolar world and strengthening international law.
Russia has sought to promote itself as a peacemaker and has actively intervened in conflicts outside the post-Soviet space since 2015. The Chechen war significantly influenced Russian thinking about peace and conflict, leading to a refined normative framework for diplomacy and military strategy. Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine have strained relations with the West, resulting in sanctions and heightened tensions with NATO.
In conclusion, Russia's diplomatic role in international conflicts is complex and driven by a mix of geopolitical interests, ideological influences, and a desire for international recognition. While Russia has actively engaged in conflict mediation and resolution, its actions have also led to strained relations with Western powers and ongoing tensions in regions like Ukraine.
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Frequently asked questions
Russia's approach to conflict management can be described as a form of coercive diplomacy, which combines peace talks with power politics. The goal is to stop the fighting without transforming societies. Russia's conflict diplomacy is designed to directly benefit its foreign policy goals and has proven effective in consolidating or extending Russian geopolitical influence.
Russia has no diplomatic relations with Ukraine due to its ongoing invasion of the country. Russia aims to weaken the "collective West" and halt external support for Ukraine. Ukraine, on the other hand, seeks to isolate Russia internationally and prevent the occupation and destruction of its independent state.
Russia has had a complex relationship with the United States, with Putin making critical statements about US foreign policy. During the Iraq disarmament crisis, Putin opposed the US move to invade Iraq without a UN resolution. In the context of the Ukraine-Russia war, the US has provided military aid and intelligence to Ukraine and attempted to broker peace deals.
