Russia

The Soviet Union was far from a superpower when the Cold War began. Faced with unmatched American power, Stalin chose to pursue a cautious approach instead of direct military confrontation to exert Soviet influence. While Russia today poses a completely different threat from its Soviet predecessor, Vladimir Putin does share similar geopolitical challenges. Read the commentary of EUROPEUM Institute Associate Research Fellow Hugo Blewett-Mundy for EUobserver.

North Korea entered the war against Ukraine on Russia's side. Kiev expects an appropriate response from its partners. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, there is evidence that not only workers but also military personnel are heading to Russia from North Korea. EUROPEUM Associate Research Fellow Tereza Novotná commented on the situation for Sestry.eu.

Moldova is likely to insert a European identity and a pro-European course into the preamble of its Constitution, according to the preliminary results of yesterday's referendum. The Kremlin, which according to the Moldovan government supported the opponents of the referendum, has already questioned the vote. Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of EUROPEUM Institute's Brussels office, commented for ČRo Plus.

Viktor Orbán has recently stirred controversy in the EU by allowing Russian and Belarusian citizens to enter Hungary without controls. This move, which simplifies their movement within the Schengen Area, has raised concerns about security threats and pressure on European states. What impact might Orbán's policy have on Europe's security, and how are EU institutions responding? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, discusses the situation for Deník N.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has shattered the post-Cold War international order built upon East-West interdependence and cooperation. The European Union (EU) - which had tried to pursue a strategic relationship with Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 - must now adapt to the geopolitical reality of Russian neo-revisionism. Hugo Blewett-Mundy, an Associate Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, identifies four areas where the EU's policy towards Russia could evolve to confront this emerging security situation in Europe.

European Union has approved its fourteenth package of sanctions against Russia, specifically targeting 116 additional individuals. Whom will the new package of sanctions affect the most? How effective have previous packages been so far? Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, answered these questions live for TN Live.

The luxury Alpine hotel Bürgenstock on the shores of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland will host the largest peace conference on Ukraine to date this coming weekend. Leaders and diplomats from nearly 90 countries will be there to seek ways to end the worst armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War. The ambitious event has been accompanied by criticism over the non-participation of Russia, China and US President Joe Biden. Even so, experts say the summit could be an important first step towards peace. Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of the Brussels office of EUROPEUM Institute, describes the possibilities the conference will offer for e15 journal.

Ninety countries and organizations confirmed their participation in the Peace Summit focusing on the war against Ukraine in Switzerland. The United States will be represented by Vice President Kamala Harris, China refused to participate and Russia was not invited. What are the key goals of the summit? Why did China decide not to come? Researcher at EUROPEUM Institute Tereza Novotná commented for Ukrainian-Polish online outlet Sestry.eu.

Before the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, a debate was held on TV Nova among the leading figures of the seven main political parties, movements, and coalitions. Important issues such as the migration pact or the conflict in Ukraine were discussed. Martin Vokálek, Director of EUROPEUM Institute, provided an analysis for TV Nova regarding the main threats facing the European Union.

With Ukraine’s defence against Russia heading toward a stalemate in the second half of the year and increased pressure inside the EU to deliver on its promises to provide the country with needed financial and military support, Serbia’s ambiguous relationship with Russia and the West has been brought increasingly into the spotlight in 2023. The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), ruling since 2012, and President Aleksandar Vučić have been responsible for continued democratic backsliding and have failed to align with the Union’s foreign policy during Serbia’s lengthy EU accession process, pushing the situation closer towards a tipping point in Serbia-EU relations. Senior researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, Jana Juzová, describes this in more detail in her article for the European Institute of the Mediterranean.

The threat of Russian nationalism poses a serious danger to Europe, as emphasized by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in his speech in April. Russia is attempting to reassert its influence, particularly through its war against Ukraine, which undermines European security. What impact does the reemergence of Russian nationalism, supported by China, have on European security, and how should the West respond to this geopolitical reality? In his commentary for the American news website The Hill, Hugo Blewett-Mundy, an external collaborator and research fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, addresses this topic.

On April 18th, EUROPEUM’s Brussels Office in partnership with PISM Brussels Office under the Think Visegrad platform hosted a discussion titled “Regional Cooperation in Central Europe in the Aftermath of Russia’s War: Changes and Prospects”. This event was attended by 15 experts from think tanks and representatives of EU institutions.