Section: The Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland)
Ukraine deals a blow against shipping in the Sea of Azov. Day 1602 of the war
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Ankara summit: Europe’s mobilisation for NATO 3.0
At the NATO summit in Ankara (7–8 July), Europe and Canada presented President Donald Trump with a significant increase in defence spending, new military procurements and industrial investments. They also expressed their readiness to assume primary responsibility for the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and the defence of Europe under the NATO...
Russia: the government is powerless in the face of the fuel crisis
Since the end of May, Russia has been experiencing a fuel crisis marked by physical shortages of fuel across most regions of the country, accompanied by rising prices for petrol and diesel. This disruption – considered the most severe in the fuel sector since the establishment of the Russian Federation – directly results from ongoing Ukrainian...
A crack in the “Skelya”: Disciplinary and reputational damage in the so-called Syrskyi regiments
On 25 June, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) suspended Yuriy Harkavyi, commander of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelya” (“Rock”), from his duties. The decision followed the opening, a day earlier, of an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation into allegations, uncovered by journalists from Babel...
Ukraine’s Parliament adopts the Law on the National Pantheon
On 1 July, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law on the National Pantheon, which had been submitted by the President of Ukraine two days earlier. Parliament fast-tracked the bill, which passed with 287 votes in favour, with no votes against and no abstentions. The vote was accompanied by an emotional debate, reflecting patriotic sentiment and broad...
Ukraine and Moldova launch EU accession negotiations
On 15 June, Luxembourg hosted two EU–Ukraine and EU–Moldova Intergovernmental Conferences (IGCs), during which both countries opened the first negotiating cluster (Fundamentals). This cluster forms the backbone of the accession process: it is opened first and closed last. It encompasses the most demanding accession criteria that both countries...
A new EU security strategy in the making: high ambitions constrained by limited means
The deteriorating security environment in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, together with tensions between the United States and NATO’s European members, has prompted EU institutions to begin work on a new strategic document – the European Security Strategy (ESS), which aims to redefine the EU’s role amid...
Ukrainian Armed Forces pin hopes on foreign recruits
On 12 June, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced a reform of the armed forces’ personnel system. The reform introduces clearly defined contract terms, starting at 10 months, higher pay for infantry personnel of up to UAH 460,000 (around $10,000) per month and a faster return to service for deserters. The most significant...
Hungarian–Ukrainian agreement on the rights of national minorities in Ukraine
On 3 June, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that Hungary had reached a ‘comprehensive agreement’ with Ukraine on expanding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast, estimated at 60,000–70,000 people. The agreement, reached following several weeks of expert consultations, expands the linguistic,...
The E3 and Ukraine: continued pressure on Russia and direct talks with the Kremlin
On 7 June, the leaders of the E3 countries – President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Keir Starmer – met President Volodymyr Zelensky in London to coordinate further support for Ukraine and discuss the prospects for peace talks with Russia, particularly the role that Europe should play in any future negotiations....
