Publication

In light of the economic sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2014 intervention in Crimea, this paper examines the Kremlin's foreign policy shift towards greater engagement with East Asia, particularly with China. The author argues that Moscow's attempt to reduce its dependency on European markets and circumvent its perceived containment by the West might turn out to be less favorable than it expects. He also suggests that Moscow's attempt to forge closer ties with East Asian countries has proven difficult for a number of reasons, including distrust, ongoing conflicts, and a lack of infrastructure.