THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN FOREIGN POLICY OF POLAND (2005–2015)

Abstract

The article analyzes the foreign policy relations between the Republic of Poland and the Russian Federation from 2005 to 2015. It is established that in 2005–2007 geopolitical contradictions between the countries intensifi ed on the grounds of the expansion of infl uences in the common neighboring territories. In particular, political relations between Moscow and Warsaw deteriorated because of the events surrounding the presidential elections in Ukraine in late 2004. Polish conservative forces that came to power as a result of the 2005 presidential and parliamentary elections distrusted Russia, emphasizing the neo-imperial aspects of its foreign policy. Drawing on a politics of memory, the Polish authorities have placed considerable emphasis in bilateral relations on reconciling issues relating to the tragic pages of the common historical past. These attempts were ambiguously perceived by the Kremlin. The article demonstrates that during this period Warsaw’s eff orts to shape the Eastern vector of EU and NATO policies, with an emphasis on accelerating the integration of post-Soviet states into European and Euro-Atlantic structures in opposition to Russia, failed mainly because of the reluctance of Paris and Berlin to confront Moscow. At the same time, the article establishes that after the coalition government led by Donald Tusk came to power in Poland in 2007, Polish-Russian political relations were reloaded. Polish diplomacy changed approaches towards shaping its Eastern policy. Establishing a constructive dialogue with Russia grounded in political pragmatism became an important element of Poland’s regional policy and was supposed to promote its projects in the region, including the Eastern Partnership initiative. By moving closer to Moscow in spheres other than economic interests, Warsaw could become a chief expert on Russia among European countries. This would undoubtedly strengthen the country’s authority and importance in the West. Accordingly, for six years the Polish government consistently followed the outlined strategy of ‘policy of normalization’ of relations with Russia, and only after the beginning of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, Polish-Russian relations deteriorated signifi cantly.