It is unlikely that countries like the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus will join the European Union by 2020. Some Russians do not accept that the EU has a legitimate interest in these states, and this may become the most contentious issue in Russia-EU relations, a study made by the UK-based Centre for European reform says. Russia regards western support for democratic movements in these places as an attempt to subvert its own position in them. The EU must try to convince the Russians that this zero-sum mentality is counterproductive. The EU cares more about the integrity of the political system in these countries than whether a particular leader is ‘pro-’ or ‘anti-’ western. Both Russia and the EU would benefit from the countries in their neighbourhood becoming peaceful, prosperous and stable. The EU should offer to work with Russia to ensure a peaceful transition in Belarus, stability and unity in Ukraine, and a resolution of the frozen conflicts in Transnistria and the Southern Caucasus. But if Russia refuses to co-operate, the EU must be ready to persevere in these efforts, the British experts consider.