23 June 2026 09:15 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission says Russia tragedy should spur transformation

Key points

Commission says normalization conditional on Russia's transformation
Commission says the war causes deep national tragedy and decline in Russia

TL;DR

Commissioner Kubilius says the war is a tragedy for Russia and damages its long-term development trajectory.
Kubilius states transformation back to "normality" cannot occur while Putin remains in power.
Kubilius notes Western leaders may compete to reestablish relations with Putin without conditions, creating a Reset 2.0 with worse outcomes for Europe and Russia.
Kubilius calls for an EU strategy that conditions future normalized relations on Russia's transformation and for continued EU support to Ukraine to inspire Russian change.

Original text

European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speaking notes by Commissioner Kubilius at the Brussels Dialogue Brussels, 23 June 2026 Russia: tragedy as an opportunity. 10 points Thanks to organizers of Second edition of Brussels Dialogue. I Remember very well how we were organizing the first one, back in 2023. After two years of the war tragedy. And with the hopes. Even about different future of Russia. Now we have the fifth year of the war. More hopes about the strength of Ukraine. Less hopes about the different future of Russia. Nevertheless, I want to talk about the hope. That is why I call my short intervention “ Russia: tragedy as an opportunity. 10 points” 1 . The war is tragedy also for Russia. Not only because Moscow is burning or there is no gasoline in Crimea or even in Moscow, and not only that Russia is losing hundreds of thousands or millions of young people, but because continuation of the war and of the aggressive policies makes trajectory of the long term development of Russia totally deeply negative. 2 . It ' s for Russian people and Russian elite to decide - do they want to continue such trajectory of degradation. 3 . I still believe, that Russia can use this domestic crisis, of its own design, to transform itself back to normality. The crisis is good momentum for such transformation. Read Jared Diamond “ Upheaval: How Nations Cope with Crisis and Change” (2019) on the national tragedies and transformation in Japan, Finland, Germany, etc. 4 . We can predict, that such transformation back to normality will never happen in Russia while Putin is in power. 5 . The West should keep very clear position: normalisation of relations with Russia can happen only if Russia transforms itself back to normality. What does it mean “ back to normality” - it is for us to decide: the just peace in Ukraine; no more neo-imperial wars against neighborhood; no “ total war” against it ' s own people; etc. 6 . The biggest danger is that after peace in Ukraine will established (hopefully the just peace, with the increasing EU support in order for Ukraine to prevail), that after that all the West, starting from USA, but also some European leaders will compete, who will be the first to reestablish good relations with Putin without any conditions on Russia transformation back to normality. Such a “ Reset 2.0”, with much worse future outcomes both for Europe, but also for Russia itself. 7 . Europe has vital strategic and long term interest in Russia ' s ability to transform itself back to normality, because this is the only way towards sustainable and long-term peace in Europe. 8 . How Europe can help Russia in such a transformation back to normality? Europe should develop now the strategy of it ' s future normalised relations with Russia after it ' s transformation back to normality, in order to show to Russian people, and to Russian elite, that there is an alternative way for them, not only Putin ' s way of tragedy and degradation. 9 . EU support to success of Ukraine, through the military assistance and euro-integration support to Ukraine is the most important instrument to trigger and to inspire Russian people and Russian elite to seek transformation of Russia back to normality. 10 . Today Europe and Russian Democrats need to come to one joint conclusion: Tragedy of Russia has one name - Putin. Transformation of Russia back to normality is more important for Europe ' s security, than new “ reset of relations with Putin”, which will only continue the tragedy of Russia and which can easily become the tragedy of the whole European continent. Za naše “ beznadežnoje delo”! Za vashu i nashu svobodu! Slava Ukrainy! SPEECH/26/1428

European Commission says Russia tragedy should spur transformation

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