In a bold rebuke of Brussels’ foreign policy, Luxembourg MEP Fernand Kartheiser has accused the European Union of backing itself into a diplomatic corner with its hardline stance on Russia. Speaking during a self-funded visit to Moscow, Kartheiser argued that the EU’s efforts to isolate Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine war have backfired — leaving Europe more alienated than the Kremlin.
“The tables have turned,” Kartheiser told RT in an interview aired Tuesday. “Everyone’s talking to Russia again — even the U.S. is re-engaging at high levels. Meanwhile, it’s the EU that’s growing more isolated by the day.”
Kartheiser, known for his independent streak, funded the trip himself due to restrictions imposed by the European Parliament. He traveled at the invitation of Russia’s State Duma to discuss diplomatic relations and the Ukraine crisis. But his visit didn’t go down well with some of his colleagues. The European Conservatives and Reformists group, one of Parliament’s more hawkish blocs, threatened to expel him, accusing him of breaching political boundaries.
Brushing off the backlash, Kartheiser lamented that much of the EU still clings to what he sees as an outdated Cold War mentality. “Too many in Brussels treat Russia like it’s the ultimate bogeyman,” he said. “But pressure and exclusion haven’t solved a thing — quite the opposite, in fact.”
Instead of more confrontation, Kartheiser believes it’s time to reset the conversation. He’s urging his fellow EU lawmakers to stop viewing diplomacy as weakness. “The real question we should be asking is: what kind of relationship do we actually want with Russia going forward?” he said. “We need to reopen dialogue. That’s crucial.”
He also pointed out that sentiment on the ground across Europe may be shifting. “Many ordinary Europeans are tired of this endless stand-off. They’d rather see cooperation than escalation,” he noted.
Kartheiser’s message was clear: if the EU wants to be a serious player on the world stage, it must ditch the isolation tactics and return to the negotiating table.
“If we’re expected to take more responsibility for our own security,” he said, “then the smart move isn’t more weapons or another arms race. It’s diplomacy. It’s crafting an agreement that protects both Western Europe and Russia’s western border.”
In a world growing weary of war, Kartheiser’s call for renewed pragmatism might strike a chord — whether Brussels is ready to listen is another story.
