The article analyzes three factors constraining EU power: its unwillingness to view Ukraine as a candidate for membership, a miscalculation of Ukrainian leaders and the ignoring of growing nationalism and xenophobia in Russia. These three factors constrained the EU in its ability to respond to the Russia–Ukraine crisis by ignoring past Russian support for separatist movements and invasion of Georgia and recognition of the independence of two separatist enclaves. The EU did not appreciate that Russia also viewed the EU (not just NATO) as a hostile actor intervening in what it views as its ‘zone of privileged interests’.