A. Dugin was for the home-market. Same stuff, only expressed in verbiage palatable for Westerners:
F. Lukianov, editor in chief of the established journal "Russia in Global Affairs" lately elaborated on what he describes as "Zwischeneuropa", Namely - states which "emerged as a result of the collapse of European empires at the beginning of 20th century", namely Central Europe and the Balkans. Łukianov expresses concern that these states are in danger of slipping into chaos, "even seemingly stable Poland and Chech Republic are endangered by extremist nationalism" Ługin does not specify what he means, but the ring is suitably ominous - calculated to strike dread in the hearts of a Westerner. It works too, notice all posts expressing grave concern about Ukrainian nationalists these days - they don't all come from paid RIA posters - enough to drop dark hints here and there and watch Germans, Belgians, Brits and French start squawking of their own accord. Btw, Russia has been creating and sponsoring fringe rightist movements in countries of the area, including Poland (fortunately, Poles are too experienced in Kremlin games to fall for these in any serious number)
A little more on the Kremlin's pet theme:
The states of "Zwisheneuropa" are becoming dangerous spots of instability. This unimportant region is drawing attention away from regions that really matter (Pacific - trl. "America, why bother with Europe"). Therefore, it's in everybody's best interest for Russia and the EU (naturally meaning "old EU") to "cooperate in helping these countries, so confused about their identity"
lol
In plain speech, Lukianov (Putin's man, Chairman of Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy) proposes a joint Russian-Brussels condominum. Whether refers to Central Europe, the Balkans, Eastern Europe or all of these remains properly vague - the point is when talking about EU he refers exclusively to the "old Union" , Lugin refers to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia,Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary as if these weren't EU members. The bait of "Russia-EU special cooperation" is chiefly primarily to Germany, secondarily to immigrant-weary societies of "old Europe". Discouragement with the EU project and especially EU-enlargement is assiduously fanned. The aim is to create a climate in which Rusian aggression and annexation of European "peripheries" is swallowed without resistance in London, Brussels and chiefly Berlin.
Defense of the opressed Russian minority in Sudettenland becomes a moral imperative.
Nobody wants to die for Kiev, Klajpeda or Tallin. Western papers issue kilometers of print analysing the issue and taking special care to avoid one-sidedness. European diplomats "condemn" and "express concern". European banks do business, as do producers of Mistrals and other high end military technology ("they'll sell us the rope on which we'll hang them")
Don't know if it's more boring to watch the Kremlin regurgitate same old hackneyed foreign policy, or Europe display the same old fecklessness and complacence.
Where will it all end, God knows.
