The Peculiarities of Russian-Spanish Relations in 2014-2020.

Russian bilateral relations with each member of the European Union have their own peculiarities, and their understanding and elimination of existing problems is a prerequisite for enhancing Russia's participation in the development of relations with various actors in the international arena. The expansion of comprehensive cooperation between Russia and Spain at the bilateral level is an essential component of Russia's further collaboration with the European region. This paper identifies a number of factors influencing the process of intensification of interstate relations interrupted in 2014. The study assesses the impact of the bilateral sanctions regime introduced several years ago on cooperation between the two states, and also considers other factors contributing to and limiting the development of contemporary Russian-Spanish relations. The paper identifies the most important areas of cooperation for the development of the dialogue between the countries and evaluates the existing joint projects within their framework. It is concluded that interstate relations remain positive and are characterized by the desire to develop despite the current political situation. Despite the detrimental impact of the sanctions regime on bilateral relations, the basis for Russian-Spanish relations is the trade and economic sphere, and energy cooperation stands as its foundation in recent years and the most promising area.