Russian President Vladimir Putin is relying on Europe's right-wing populist parties. He promotes, finances, and connects them with each other. His goal is to gain geopolitical influence and drive a weakening European Union into irrelevance. Europe's right-wing parties are counting on an alliance with Putin. Their aim is to dismantle the EU and establish a Europe of isolating nation-states. The year 2017 could be crucial for this strategy: significant gains are predicted for the AfD in Germany and the Front National in France in the upcoming elections. The rightward shift could go even further in Austria. If the far-right FPÖ wins first place in the next elections, it could steer the country towards a national-conservative, EU-hostile course, much like the authoritarian parties are already doing in Poland and Hungary.