Section: The Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland)
Turkish dilemmas in the shadow of the war in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine forcefully evoked the question of Turkey’s international position and political strategy in its neighbourhood, but also in its relations with the West and Russia. In the first months of the aggression, Turkey reaffirmed its alignment with the West and its fear of Russian power and ambitions. The war also provided an...
A creeping annexation. Russia’s plans to partition Ukraine
Russia was forced to modify its plan after its military operation in Ukraine failed. The original intention was the rapid political subjugation of Ukraine. The new plan involves Russia consolidating its position in the territories that it has managed to seize thus far. As a result of major resistance on the part of Ukrainian society, the Kremlin...
Rapprochement: Moldova’s president visits Kyiv
On 27 June Moldova’s President Maia Sandu paid an official visit to Kyiv, the first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She met, among other officials, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and visited Bucha, Irpin and Borodyanka. During her visit Sandu pledged Moldova’s support for the ‘brave Ukrainian nation’ and declared...
Russia’s attack on Ukraine: day 125
Russian forces continue to advance southwest of Lysychansk (in the Vovchoyarivka–Verkhn’okam’yanka area), while they have been halted on the western side of the ‘road of life’ (near the village of Spirne). Fighting is ongoing on the outskirts of Lysychansk and south-east of Bakhmut (Midna Ruda–Klynove; the invaders have...
The beginning of a long journey. Ukraine and Moldova as EU candidate countries
At the European Council summit held on 23 June, Ukraine and Moldova were granted EU candidate country status. The decision was described as historic by both the EU leadership and the governments of Ukraine and Moldova. President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out there was no alternative to Ukraine’s future EU membership and called on the...
Russia’s attack on Ukraine: day 120
During the night, Ukrainian forces began withdrawing from Sievierodonetsk and crossed the Donets River under fire to Lysychansk (the bridges connecting the two cities were destroyed, and there is no possibility of retreat in the other directions). According to the head of the military-civil administration of the Luhansk Oblasts, Serhiy Haidai,...
Russia’s attack on Ukraine: day 117
Fighting continues for the Azot plant, the last point of Ukrainian resistance in Sievierodonetsk. The defenders are repelling Russian attacks on the southern outskirts of the city (Syrotyne), on both sides of the road connecting Hirske with Lysychansk (the villages of Myrna Dolyna and Bila Hora), south-east of Bakhmut and north of Sloviansk (near...
Having your cake and eating it. Georgia, the war in Ukraine and integration with the West
Georgia’s reaction to the war in Ukraine can be called ambivalent. Although Tbilisi condemned the aggression, it has not joined the anti-Russian sanctions. Indeed, according to Kyiv, Georgia has been violating them and allowing Russia to circumvent them, although so far there is no hard evidence of this. Georgia’s stance of...
Russia’s attack on Ukraine: day 102
The Ukrainian side provides conflicting information on the situation in Sievierodonetsk. According to official data, a counter-attack was launched over the weekend, as a result of which Russian forces were pushed out of some areas and almost half of the city area was brought under control. …read more Source:: Centre for Eastern Studies...
Ukraine: 100 days of existential war
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to stay in Kyiv after the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February and his immediate assumption of leadership in defending the country on the very first day of the war made him the leader around whom society and most of the political elite consolidated. His attitude fully reflected the public...
