Azerbaijan, Baku, May 31 / Trend E. Ostapenko /
Perception of Russia's position in the world gradually becomes softer. It is connected with the fact that the Russian leadership began to listen to the West in its foreign policy, special adviser to the French Institute for International Relations (Ifri), Dominique Moisi, believes.
"They [the Russians] understand they can get more from the Western world if they appeal to its hope than if they play on its fear", he told Trend over the phone.
There is a trend of a more loyal relationship of Europe to Russia recently. The EU is not strongly opposed to Russia's desire to gradually restore its political influence in post-Soviet countries.
The region of Central Asia, as well as Ukraine, where a clear trend of rapprochement with Russia appeared after the change of the pro-Western government, can serve a brilliant example.
Last week, Russia was offered again to participate in the EU program "Eastern Partnership" by joining "a group of friends." Russia was initially suspicious of the initiative of the Eastern Partnership, designated for the economic convergence between the EU and six former Soviet states - Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Belarus.
A little earlier, European Commissioner for enlargement Stefan Füle stated about the wish of the European Union to cooperate rather than compete with Russia in the post-Soviet sphere.
Moisi considers that the change in the position of Europe towards Russia is connected with the evolution of the Russian diplomacy, with the fact that Russia has discovered the concept of "soft power".
"Now, there is a trend in favor of greater openness in the Russian leadership, headed by Medvedev. It is important to consider the change taking place in Russia and to answer that change", he said.