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How Central and Eastern Europe perceives the Russian threat

The war in Ukraine has brought back debate on possible new aggression from Russia. But for Central and Eastern Europe, the risk of being annexed and erased from the map is centuries old. Without a doubt, the lessons of history are essential for forming judgments about today’s events.

According to a pattern that was somewhat predictable, but with a completely unexpected impact, Donald Trump’s return to the White House is upsetting the dynamics of international politics, creating insecurity and fuelling instability. It is also bringing back into focus a topic that periodically emerges in European public debate and was already discussed during the first term of Trump’s presidency: the need to establish a common European defence.

May 5, 2025 - Andrea Pipino - Hot TopicsIssue 3 2025Magazine

illustration by Andrzej Zaręba

The topic can clearly be seen from different perspectives and is a kind of litmus test for examining the misunderstandings about security (and not only) that still exist in the relationship between Western Europe and much of what is often referred to as “New Europe”. This is namely the former communist countries that joined the EU between 2004 and 2007. In short, these are divergences in the analysis – and public perception – of the military threat posed by Vladimir Putin’s Russia. There are therefore different political evaluations (for example, regarding NATO’s role, EU membership, sovereignty and national identity) that are the product of these divergences and, above all, their historical and political roots.

Constant threat

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