For a Rapprochement with Europe’s Conservative Parties

[Editor’s note. Context: This article follows a contribution by Anton Friesen, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) adviser on international affairs. In it, Friesen discusses the concept of “European Continentalism,” attributed to Algis Klimaitis, adviser to Lithuania’s first president.]

For Filipp Fomitchev, Russia can and should seek closer ties with Europe’s populist and conservative parties in order to avert a new Russo-European confrontation. Like the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), these parties are not necessarily pro-Russian, yet a dialogue—both pragmatic and value-driven—may develop around key themes such as the demographic crisis, migration issues, wokism, and pressure from the “Global South.” The waning American interest in Europe and the rise of these movements support the emergence of a “continentalist” scenario, in which European states, including Russia, would act as sovereign players within a shared civilizational space. To avoid alienating its (future) European partners, Russia will need to demonstrate its willingness to treat them as equals and to dispel any suspicion of expansionist ambitions, the author argues.

Expert: Filipp Fomitchev, PhD candidate and researcher on conservatism at the Higher School of Economics.
Source: “Rossiâ i Evropa: šansy i ugrozy v usloviâh geopolitičeskoj vtoričnosti,” Rossiâ v Globalnoj Politike, October 1, 2025.

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