The book examines the political relationship between Russia and other states in environmental matters. Based on detailed empirical analysis, including interviews and media sources, the authors scrutinize the dynamics of Russia’s participation in international environmental politics and discuss whether Russian policies can best be explained as the result of environmental concerns or of foreign-policy objectives more widely. Are international negotiations indeed 'environmental encounters', or more platforms for national benefit-seeking and global image-building? Three case studies are analysed in detail, focusing on climate policy, water protection and fisheries management.