The former Soviet region has been the focus of tensions between and among the United States, Europe and Russia for two decades, with hot button issues over trade, borders, citizenship, NATO and EU expansion, and “spheres of influence”. Focusing on one geographic or thematic area, what concrete steps can be taken by the key players to reduce tensions?

I can speak only about Russian strategy because I don't aware of the US, NATO, EU global plans or maybe I cannot estimate them objectively. So the first point that makes me doubt is why do you, Leo, think that Russia wants to reduce the tension? It is very convenient situation for our government when people see in NATO, EU and especially America the main and the most terrible enemy of our country. Have you heard about the Dulles' plan that is very popular in Russia till now? Most of people believes that all our troubles, bad economic situation and loss of moral values among modern generations are a result of the US policy. However, there are a lot of real and logic facts that the Dulles' Doctrine was created by the Soviet Union in the Cold war period  to direct people against America one more time. But the question is why it continues working nowadays?

In my opinion, the answer is obvious. The information stays the same in mass media, there are many hidden or sometimes even direct  hints and implications that the US and Co. threaten our country, that they strive for possessing our territory and resources, destroying our nation with forcing us to pay a lot of attention to sex, alcohol, silly movies , lecherous democracy, armament race and etc. So people accept these ideas subconsciously,  instinctively, they are given with the concret image of enemy and they start thinking that it is real while our government is running the country only in interests of oligarches, of mr. putin and other united russia's officers. People become narrow-minded as a horse with blinders on. The internal policy is made without people and this is the most primary misfortune, only this thing has eliminated our former power and prosperity,  demoralized us. Consequently, our current international policy is profitable for the government. It is like a virtual game and we, common people are not permitted to get rid of that and concentrate on real inner problems. 

Everything will be worse if united russia goes on destroying our educational system that was very strong, effective and suited our national character. Now there is an aspiration to turn us into stupid dalls that are easily controlled and meekly comsume any products of goverment's activities. 

I cannot reject the probability that this situation is implemented with help of American goverment or better to say the world authorities that control every country, every local power. I mean that the game can be greater than we imagine.  Any war for them [let's call them world top-managers] is a benefit due to the huge amount of money, any conflict, international or civil, has the same effect. Recently I heard a very good conversation from an american movie. 

The adult to children: Does anybody know what we ALL want?

Silence was in the class. After some seconds a little girl answered: Peace. 

The teacher: Exactly! Everyone wants peace.   

I think this the very true idea. We naturally want peace, balance, harmony.  Why we, so civilized, so clever with the great historical experience have not guessed to create strong world agreement to keep this principle, to cooperate with each other without confrontation? Because the top-managers don't want any peace but only  money and power. This is a human sin, awful but constant feature of human being, there are always people who cannot say stop to harmful temtations. I don't know why our world works in such way, why it is so essential for some people to destroy, kill, deceive?  A rethorical question. 

OK, just imagine that the policy of our country could be adequate, that there are not any world top-managers. What steps could we do? I think Russia should reduce the anti-missile defense outside the country, decrease amout of military bases in half. Instead of military confrontation between our countries we should start special program to improve our science and business connections. The only thing we need to avoid is not to sell more than 25 % of russian companies shares to foreign companies. This is a way to keep national asserts inside the country.
Environmental cooperation! The EU will be happy to develop, test and install sustainable systems in Russia, I don't know why but maybe it is a special feature of European countries, they have  a great potential that we need to adopt. Now our country is trembling  at the thought that foreigners can use our territory and resources more efficiently and rationally than we can. I would suggest allowing them to implement  their projects beeing regulated by our special competent legislation (that needs to be created too). If our human intellectual resources flow away abroad why we couldn't attract the foreigners? When the situation will be better this process will come to stope on its own.
Gaz, oil and the EU. This direction is rather well controled now, the EU receives our gaz and oil without problem. However, Russian people don't see the money gained from this selling.
My Gods. My dear Gods! Please, give the Russians a consciousness that firstly we need to solve our inner national problems, that we should not care so much about arm race, nuclear bombs and etc. People suffer a lot, they strongly want to have a good education, medicine, normal living and work conditions, the justice  and  respect of laws. If people receive everything that I described they will have their own wish to raise and support the country, to win the first places in economy, sciense and social development.  Currently each person tries to save his or her skin, we are individualists, the government forces us to be like that.
In addition, my little personal wishes: to introduce death penalty, gay marrige, returne former education,  nationalize resources and elimimate corrupt government. Viva Russia! Viva World!.... Yes, I'm very naive girl ))

I am tired of pondering about solutions because I don't beleive in them.