Russia’s pivot to the east: Where does it leave the EU? (Commentary)

Zachary Paikin - 21 February 2019

As relations between the EU and Russia remain frosty, Moscow has pivoted towards Beijing in search of deeper strategic cooperation. How can Europe re-engage with a Russia increasingly focused on (Eur)asia? 

Ukraine's experiment with trust (Commentary)

Joanna Hosa - 21 February 2019

Trust is a scarce resource in Ukrainian politics. Could a TV president be the one to deliver it in the upcoming elections?

Can Belarus become a success story of European security? (Commentary)

Yauheni Preiherman - 21 February 2019

Western observers continue to misread Belarus – and to overlook the strengthened diplomatic and security roles it could play in eastern Europe

Russia, Germany, and the INF: Will Berlin break its silence? (Commentary)

Gustav Gressel - 06 February 2019

Germany is not facing up to the INF challenge. If it does not take a lead, Russian nuclear superiority over Europe will soon be a done deal

Russian mercenaries on the march: next stop Venezuela? (Commentary)

Sergey Sukhankin - 01 February 2019

With Russian contractors reportedly active in Venezuela, how far will Moscow go to protect its regional interests and ambitions?

“1 in 5 million”: Mounting pressure in Balkan protests (Commentary)

Alida Vračić - 15 January 2019

New civil protests are laying bare growing forms of repression across the Western Balkans

Happy Christmas, Ukraine (Commentary)

Andrew Wilson - 09 January 2019

On 7 January, Ukrainians celebrated a double-holiday: Orthodox Christmas and the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox church

Berlin - 28 Feb 19

Black Coffee Morning in cooperation with Georgia's Reforms Associates (GRASS). 

Madrid - 06 Feb 19

Rueda de prensa, en colaboración con The Institute for Statecraft y Hybrid CoE, dedicada a la estrategia seguida por Rusia para influir en la seguridad europea.

Berlin - 29 Jan 19

5 years after the Maidan uprising we take a look at Ukraine's impressive progress. How can European partners uphold the momentum for reform and foster further EU integration of Ukraine? 

Warsaw - 22 Jan 19

What should Poland's and Germany's contribution to the region's security look like?

Warsaw - 22 Jan 19

Jak powinien wyglądać wkład Polski i Niemiec w bezpieczeństwo regionu?

Berlin - 15 Nov 18

The European Council on Foreign Relations invites you to a discussion on the regional security order between Russia and the West.

Madrid - 15 Nov 18

Almuerzo de trabajo, en colaboración con la Embajada británica en España y la organización Integrity Initiative, sobre cómo hacer frente a la desinformación rusa y cuál es la estrategia y las experiencias de Reino Unido. 

London - 09 Nov 18

Developments in US-Russia relations

The US role in Syria

Anthony Dworkin steps in for Mark Leonard and discusses the US strategy in Syria with Asli Aydintasbas, Julien Barnes-Dacey and Jasmin El-Gamal. The podcast was recorded on 10 January 2019.

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The Sea of Azov: The newest front in the war in Ukraine?

Mark Leonard speaks with Andrew Wilson, Kadri Liik and Nicu Popescu about the Kerch Strait ship capture, what this means and how the international community could react to the latest tensions. The podcast was recorded on 26 November 2018.

Bookshelf:
The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage by Cliff Stoll 
Why doctors hate their computers by Atul Gawande
Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President - What We Don't, Can't, and Do Know by Kathleen Hall Jamieson 
Network Propaganda - Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts 
Distant love by Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim 

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Russian foreign policy in the cyber age

Podcast de notre BCM du 7 novembre en partenariat avec l’Institut d’études de sécurité de l’Union européenne (EUISS): « Russian foreign policy in the cyber age » en présence d’Alina Polyakova, policy fellow à la Brookings Institution, Stanislav Secrieru, analyste senior à l’EUISS, et Nicu Popescu, directeur du programme Europe Elargie de l'ECFR.

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The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi

Mark Leonard speaks with Asli Aydintasbas, Jeremy Shapiro and Julien Barnes-Dacy about what effect the incident might have on relations between Saudi Arabia, the US and Turkey. The podcast was recorded on the 16 October 2018.

Bookshelf:

The Jungle Grows Back by Robert Kagan

The River of Doubt by Candice Millard 

Lords of the Desert by James Barr 

Khashoggi disappearance: Time for an independent investigation by Julien Barnes-Dacey 

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Macedonian referendum: What happens next?

Mark Leonard speaks with Vessela Tcherneva and Robert Cooper about the contested result and how it might be solved.

Bookshelf:
Carnegie report on the Balkan wars 
Safe Passage - The Transition from British to American Hegemony by Tori Schake 
The Master and Margarita Reader’s Guide by Mikhail Bulgakov
The Age of Rubens: Diplomacy, Dynastic politics and the Visual Arts in Early 17th Century Europe 
Breaking old habits in the Balkans by Robert Cooper 
Macedonia’s looming war of interpretations by Vessela Tcherneva 

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Russia and the Middle East

Podcast de notre conférence du 1 octobre en partenariat avec l’Institut d’études de sécurité de l’Union européenne (EUISS) : « Russia and the Middle East » en présence de Nicu Popescu, directeur du programme Europe Elargie, Stanislav Secrieru, senior analyst à l’EUISS, Julien Barnes-Dacey, directeur du programme MENA et Timofey Borisov, chercheur au Centre de l'analyse des stratégies et technologies de Moscou (CAST).

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The Idlib crisis – Can Turkey and Europe avert disaster?

Mark Leonard examines the looming Syrian-Russian military action in Idlib in discussion with ECFR experts Asli Aydıntaşbaş, Julien Barnes-Dacey, and Almut Möller. What do Turks and Europeans make of the possible humanitarian and geopolitical consequences?

Bookshelf
The tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr
Into the Hands of the Soldiers: Freedom and Chaos in Egypt and the Middle East  by David D. Kirkpatrick
The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump by Michiko Kakutani
Francis Fukuyama Postpones the End of History by Louis Menand

The podcast was recorded on 12 September.

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Nicu Popescu is quoted by Le Monde regarding the relationship between Russia and the ex-republics of the Soviet Union. 

Tara Varma is interviewed by Arte regarding US and Russia's withdrawal from the INF Treaty and the consequences for Europe.

Gustav Gressel comments on Surkow's statements about Putin's style of ruling Russia. 

Gustav Gressel comments on the tensions between France and Germany in the Nord Stream 2 compromise. 

In this op-ed for the Washington Post, Asli Aydintasbas analyses the disrupted US-Turkey relationship in the Syria conflict and advocates a more comprehensive approach to a peace settlement. 

In OZY's summary piece on the global election year 2019,  Andrew Wilson shares his take on the upcoming Ukrainian election in light of ongoing conflict and Russian influence. 

Vessela Tcherneva is quoted in the NYT's article on Hungary's involvement in aiding and harbouring a fugitive politician from Macedonia. 

In her op-ed for the Washington Post Jasmine El-Gamal analyses the lessons learned from Obama's Iraq withdrawal in light of Trump's announcement to pull US troops from Syria.