The article analyzes Russian-Turkish relations from the 18th century until the 21st century on the basis of Vadim Tsymbursky’s civilizational conception. The author notes that one of the ways of possibly developing this theory could be to analyse the role of Turkey in the European conflict system and the system of the Large Mediterranean. We put forward the hypothesis that the function of the Ottoman Empire in the European system had many similarities with that Russia had for the last three centuries – the function of the Eastern balancer in the continental concert of powers. The article reaches the conclusion that one of the factors for improving relations between Russia and Turkey is the “ostracism” of these two countries by the Euro-Atlantic civilization which has become its “political line”. Consequently, the rise of civilizational self-conscience, both by Russia and Turkey, should be recognized as, in many aspects, a result of “pupation” of Euro-Atlantic community.