The European Union's relationship with its most powerful neighbour is dysfunctional. Last week's summit with Russia was a dismal affair, overshadowed by internal EU squabbling, the mysterious death of a former Russian spy and sundry rows over pipelines and food safety. Before the next summit in May, the EU needs a robust and unified policy that allows co-operation without offering Russia the chance to dictate terms.

Russian energy politics moved belatedly to the top of the EU agenda in early January, when Moscow cut off gas to Ukraine. The EU's own dependence on Russian gas increases every day. Yet the bloc remains deeply divided over how to manage that dependence. On the eve of the summit with President Vladimir Putin, EU countries failed to agree a common stance for negotiations.