The article provides an overview of Russian political analysts´ opinions regarding the relations between Russia and the European Union on the eve and at the initial stage of the Ukrainian crisis. At the center of debate is the economic and political state of the EU after the financial crisis in 2008, integration processes in Europe, policy of Russia and the European Union in the post-Soviet space and the possible scenarios for the development of relations between Russia and the EU in the future. It is emphasized that the relations with the European Union are in a unique place in the external relations of the Russian Federation. At the same time a clear dissonance is found between the EU role in foreign economic relations of Russia and the degree of understanding most of the Russian and European elites.