Realism with regard to Russia

The Times argues for the resumption of talks between the EU and Russia despite tensions over Georgia, concluding that diplomacy is the only means for furthering Western objectives: "Russia's recent policies have been far from co-operative. It has displayed a prickly nationalism, encouraged anti-American posturing around the world, been obstructive over Kosovo and vetoed UN resolutions on Iran and Zimbabwe. On the day that Barack Obama was elected [US president], Russia chose not to congratulate him but to issue a threat to station missiles in Kaliningrad - in response to US plans for a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia must still be held to account over Georgia. But the right response, as it was when the Soviet Union was actively undermining Western interests, is diplomacy. This must be multifaceted. Arms talks were not abandoned in 1989 because of Afghanistan, nor must other Western goals, including people-to-people contacts, be set aside because of Georgia."

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