Swedish Foreign Minister: Putin's Russia engaged in "brutal pressure" against Eastern European countries

Most European leaders understand that Vladimir Putin is the dictator of the kleptocracy called Russia. But as long as there are "leaders", like EU "president" Herman Van Rompuy, who in their official speeches still describe Putin's mafia state in this way, there is not much hope for a more truthful approach:

 

Russia and Europe belong to the European family and want the same things, Van Rompuy underscored. “We want our citizens to be prosperous and safe; and we want peace and security between countries in Europe and in the world.” --

“I believe our societies will grow closer to one another, and that our economic systems, our political institutions will do so too – each of us following our own path,” said Van Rompuy.

Fortunately there are also political leaders, like Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who have a deeper understanding of  the Putin regime:

Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt warned of Russia pressuring Eastern European countries like Armenia, Georgia and Moldova to cut negotiations with the European Union, urging the EU to develop a strategy to resist Moscow.

 "What we have seen during the past few weeks is brutal Russian pressure against the partnership countries of a sort that we haven't seen in Europe for a very long time," Bildt told reporters during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Lithuania's capital Vilnius on Saturday.

He was referring to the post-soviet states Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, in which the EU supports democratic reforms under the so-called program "Eastern Partnership".

"I see they have been threatening Moldova with a cut-off in gas supplies as well as a cut-off in wine exports," Bildt said. "This is economic warfare."

He claims that Russia takes advantage of the international focus being on Syria, quietly pressuring the post-soviet states.

Last week, Russia warned Moldova that its pro-Europe stance could lead to a more costly energy relationship to its biggest gas supplier, Russia. Dimitry Rogozin, the Russian deputy prime minister, said on a visit to Moldova: "Energy supplies are important in the run-up to winter. I hope you won't freeze."

Moldova's leaders declared that they won't change their course towards more trade with the European Union.

In November, the EU will hold a summit in Vilnius, discussing new free trade agreements with the former soviet countries.

Of course Putin and his servile underlings have never liked truthsayers like Bildt, but if things go well from a European perspective, there will be more "Bildts", and fewer "Van Rompuys" in the future ....