Issue 4/2022: Values under siege

Now available. Issue 4/2022 of New Eastern Europe. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine we now see our western values under siege, whether we consciously recognise it or not.

July 15, 2022 - New Eastern Europe - Issue 4 2022Magazine

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The unprovoked full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine which began on February 24th 2022 has certainly changed nearly every aspect of life for Ukrainians, we began covering this in our previous edition of New Eastern Europe.

While it is true that the reality for Ukrainians has changed dramatically, it is also true that our geopolitical reality has also been significantly altered. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine we now see our western values under siege, whether we consciously recognise it or not. The response to the level of violence against Ukrainians was encouraging – as countries in the European Union together with other western states swiftly enacted sanctions against Russia and began supporting Ukraine militarily.

Yet, many decisions on what level to support Ukraine against this illegal invasion have become politicised or poorly understood. To understand this better, the theme of this issue of New Eastern Europe looks at the ways Russia’s siege have changed our societies (or not). We open this issue with an essay by Samuel Abraham who puts the war in the context of what Henry Kissinger describes as a “totally new era” and argues that Ukraine’s victory will only strengthen the West. Rebecca Harms advocates for a stronger, more coherent German strategy, while Cyrille Bret puts perspective on Emmanuel Macron’s most recent presidential victory. Paweł Kowal discusses how the West must also better support free Belarusians in exile or those being repressed in their own country. Mykola Riabchuk outlines the shared values under siege, and why Ukraine is fighting not only for their freedom, but ours as well. Lastly, we add commentary on how the war has changed countries beyond the region – which shows the extent of the changes that this invasion has wrought.

We invite you to please keep our Ukrainian friends and colleagues in mind as you read this issue. If you would like to offer support, we have an ongoing fundraiser to assist our contributors and translators. Please consider donating to this campaign.

Contents

Ukraine and its discontents Samuel Abrahám

Germany’s Russia policy must change Rebecca Harms

For our freedom and yours Mykola Riabczuk

How a free Belarus can join the anti-Putin coalition Paweł Kowal

Macron’s Eastern Europe rethink Cyrille Bret

Overcoming imperial trauma Piotr Augustyniak

Central European sensitivity towards Ukraine Kinga Anna Gajda

The power of local diplomacy Cristian Cantir

In the footsteps of Viktor Orbán’s invincibility Szabolcs Vörös

Local perspectives: What has (not) changed since the war in Ukraine

Germany still struggles to understand its Eastern neighbours Mattia Nelles