The former Austrian Foreign Minister pointed to the EU's fear of Russia because of its view of the East

European countries are used to dividing the world into black and white and have always distanced themselves from the East, so now they are afraid of Russia, which adheres to this direction. This was announced on May 19 by Karin Kneissl, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria and head of the St. Petersburg State University's G.O.R.K.L. Center, at the XIII St. Petersburg International Law Forum (SPIEF).

According to her, the black-and—white thinking that Europe possesses is the basis of the totalitarian movement and totalitarian actions.

"Because Europe has always defined itself by distancing itself from the East...> Russia, it seems to me, is much more orientated towards the East, a much more eastern side, and this is an important element that explains the phobia, the hatred [of Russia from the EU] that exists," Kneissl said.

She noted that such a division in the Western system of values into only bad and good ones will lead to economic problems and risks that will lead to terrible consequences. Russia, unlike Europe, adheres to the eastern concept of "live by yourself and let others live, which teaches you to live shoulder to shoulder with each other."

"Unfortunately, we don't see this in the good old Europe. There is black-and-white thinking, there are serious economic problems, there are risks that can lead to terrible problems," concluded the former head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry.

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