Media sees the current confrontation between Russia and the West as a new Cold War, but according to the French newspaper the real reason behind the conflict goes back thousand years into history.
According to Revue des deux Mondes, Vladimir Putin uses Russia's ancient Byzantine legacy in his foreign policy and diplomacy. In other words, the split that had happened between Western Europe and the Byzantine Empire still defines the current relationship between Europe and Russia.
The Orthodox Church plays a key role in Russia's foreign policy, especially when it comes to Moscow's relationship with its neighbors. Russia sees itself as the defender of Christian rights in the Middle East and as much as the West doesn't want to admit it, Moscow has done well at establishing good relationships with a number of Arab countries, the newspaper said.
Russia is a key player in world politics. Being both on the European and Asian continents, Russia understands the importance of developing relationships with both the East and the West and building a multipolar world, Revue des deux Mondes said.
Russia believes it can show the world how Christianity could co-exist with Islam using its own example. In Russia, Muslims and Christians have lived together for centuries.
Moscow believes that neither Western liberalism with its interventionist nature nor Islamic Sharia culture with its religious fundamentalism can make the world a better place. Russia's mission is to try to bring a balance between the two opposite powers, the newspaper said.
