Carnegie’s Judy Dempsey criticizes the EU’s timid approach to relations with the countries in its Eastern Partnership program. Brussels is scared to push for faster European integration of the Eastern Partnership countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia) because it fears Russia will retaliate. But, Russia will continue to meddle in Ukraine and Eastern Europe regardless, and the best approach is to offer those countries the possibility of EU accession, Dempsey argues. That would present the Eastern Partnership countries a prime opportunity to complete their transitions into democracies, and it would help restore stability throughout Europe.