Putin Suggests United States of Europe and Russia - by John W. Miller

This week, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, fresh off making another move toward joining the WTO, upped the ante on continental unity, although, to be fair, his ambition is purely economic, not martial or political.

Mr. Putin wrote an opinion piece in a German newspaper calling for a “harmonious economic community stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok.” It was a way out of recession, he argued, that could “trigger a new wave of industrialization across the European continent.”

Now it’s up to European Union leaders to respond. German chancellor Angela Merkel went first, saying she had felt compelled to “pour some cold water” on Mr. Putin’s overtures. Judging from this reaction from one of the most sympathetic countries to Russia in the EU, Mr. Putin may have to accept that his idea is perhaps one whose time has simply not yet come.

Note EU-Digest: Not a bad idea. It's time to come up with some fresh ideas for the EU and Mr. Putin's suggestion certainly is a valuable one.


For more: Putin Suggests United States of Europe and Russia - Real Time Brussels - WSJ