Playing Both Ends Against the Middle: Russia's Geopolitical Energy Games with the EU and Ukraine

Ukraine plays an important role as a transit country for the delivery of Russian energy to the EU. This study focuses on Russia's policy towards Ukraine in the energy sphere, presenting it against the background of complex geopolitical energy games, which are taking place among the three actors. Even though these actors share common interests and challenges, the geopolitical games complicate and undermine the relationships. There are no true winners. Instead of integration and opportunities, the pursuit of geopolitical benefits creates mistrust, exclusion and vulnerabilities.