Who Are Putin's Friends In Europe?

The Business Insider/The Economist: Here's who backs Putin in Europe — and why



Populist parties of both right and left, many pro-Russian, did well in last May's European elections, taking between them a quarter of the seats. This has raised fears of a coherent pro-Russian block forming in Strasbourg.


In Greece, the now-ruling radical-left Syriza party leans towards Russia. On February 11th Nikos Kotzias, the new foreign minister, went to Moscow--his first visit to a foreign capital outside the European Union.



WNU Editor: Russian President Putin has always cultivated personal friendships and alliances .... not political parties. And it is through these relationships that he influences European policy. Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi are two people that immediately come to my mind.