Section: The Polish Institute of International Affairs – PISM (Poland)
The Role of Private Military Contractors in Russian Foreign Policy
Private Russian military contractors operate not only in Syria and Ukraine but also in countries where Russian enterprises are investing. Although under Russian law, this type of organisation is prohibited—the State Duma again rejected a bill legalising them—unofficially they enjoy state support because they increase Russia’s military...
Putin’s Elections
On 18 March, Vladimir Putin was named the winner of the presidential election in Russia, as predicted. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), however, reports it found many irregularities in the course of the vote. International affairs played an important role in the mobilisation of the electorate around the president....
Likely Consequences of Council of Europe Concessions to Russia
There is a growing view in the Council of Europe (CoE) to abandon the sanctions imposed on Russia for its violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Since the objectives of the sanctions—especially Russia’s withdrawal from Crimea—have not been achieved, lifting them would jeopardise the credibility of the...
Poland on the UN Security Council
The main issues facing the UN Security Council (UNSC) are North Korea’s nuclear programme, the status of Jerusalem, and Russian aggression in Ukraine. Analysis of UNSC member positions indicates several potential sources of conflict but also possible fields of cooperation. Poland must prepare to act in these areas to achieve its goals...
Prospects for a UN Peacekeeping Mission to Donbas
During the September United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Russia and Ukraine each presented proposals for the deployment of a peacekeeping mission to Donbas. However, the differences between the two countries reduce the probability of reaching agreement on that issue. From Ukraine’s perspective, the mission should be deployed in all...
The Importance of the Zapad 2017 Exercises
The Zapad 2017 Russian military exercises were just one element of an extensive plan to checking its armed forces’ combat readiness. At the same time, the exercises were used to test the experience gained by the Russian army in combat operations in Ukraine and Syria, and to practise full-scale conventional conflict. The manoeuvres proved...
China’s Perspective on Its Strategic Partnership with Russia
China has used the deterioration of Russia’s relations with the EU and U.S. to strengthen its position within a strategic partnership with the Russian Federation. The PRC’s goals are to counterbalance the U.S., secure its own economic interests in the post-Soviet area, increase border security and obtain Russian support for Chinese...
The Significance of High Readiness Forces for NATO Credibility
Even though the U.S. has in the last decade reduced the number of its troops in Europe from 98,000 to about 70,000, NATO’s ability to deter Russia and to perform expeditionary missions is largely based on American military resources. After the withdrawal of the last armoured brigade from Europe in 2013, just two U.S. Army brigades (airborne...
Baltic States Adjust Their Security Policy
Faced with uncertainty about U.S. policy in NATO and U.S.-Russia relations, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have attempted to adapt their security policy to these circumstances. Mainly, this has involved a gradual increase in defence spending and an intensification of activity among the Baltic States after Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The...
Donbas Trade Blockade Poses a Challenge to Ukrainian Authorities
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s ad-hoc decision to authorise the trade blockade of Russia-occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions was taken to diminish the risk of political instability in the country. However, the blockade will not solve the problem of the lack of a coherent state policy towards that area and poses a...
