Until recently, Cyprus was perceived as a “safe haven” for Russian capital—a jurisdiction with light regulation, a favorable tax system, and strong ties to Russian business elites. However, by 2026 the situation has changed dramatically. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the tightening of European Union sanctions policy,...
The birth of a new German power: yow the war in Ukraine made Germany Europe’s military leader
February 2022 and the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine marked a new turning point for Germany — a fundamental reassessment of the country's position in the European security system, its military doctrine, and the restructuring of its economy. But does this represent mere adaptation to new threats, or is...
Slovakia’s “Eastern turn” and its consequences for Pan-European policy
The return to power of Prime Minister Robert Fico in October 2023 marked a turning point in Slovakia's foreign policy. A country long regarded as part of Central Europe's pro-European consensus began showing signs of a strategic shift toward an "eastern," pragmatically pro-Russian line. This process is unfolding against the...
Political turbulence in Romania and the Kremlin’s shadow hand
Romania has entered another phase of political crisis after the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest force in the ruling coalition, withdrew its support for liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and began demanding his resignation. The loss of a parliamentary majority immediately created conditions for protracted inter-party negotiations and the...
Armenia builds a shield against Russian information operations with France’s help
In the spring of 2026, Armenia reached a point where information security became a matter of national resilience. Against the backdrop of parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2026, and an ongoing geopolitical pivot away from Moscow toward Brussels and Paris, Yerevan officially turned to France for the first time,...
Who and why is sabotaging Slovakia’s wind energy
The European Union views wind energy as a promising and important direction for the development of renewable energy sources. Under the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU plan, wind generation has been identified as a key instrument of decarbonisation, and for Slovakia, which is largely dependent on fossil fuel imports,...
Why Slovakia clings to Russian gas despite sanctions and alternatives
The European Union plans to completely phase out Russian natural gas by the end of 2027. While eurozone countries are working to establish alternative supply channels, several European capitals are openly defying this directive. Slovakia is one of them: on April 17, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that his government...
Russia’s humanitarian expansion in the Balkans
Russia demonstrates a heightened interest in preserving its influence in the Balkans, as existing opportunities allow it to convert historical, religious, cultural, and energy ties into real political leverage. In the long term, Moscow aims to prevent the Euro-Atlantic integration of the region's countries, as well as to undermine European...
AfD as a tool of the Kremlin: the history of a political project that became a threat to EU unity
Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged in 2013 as a response by conservative German elites to the eurozone crisis, uniting citizens who opposed financial bailouts for weak Southern European economies and demanded fundamental EU reforms. The party's ideological affinity for Russia became apparent almost immediately after its founding, when one of...
Double standards of the International Olympic Committee
After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) introduced restrictions aimed at completely isolating Russian athletes from international competition. Initially this was a full ban on participation in tournaments, but through behind-the-scenes pressure and lobbying from Russia, they were later permitted to compete under...