Analysis Archives

An alliance of creepy uncles

In a letter to the Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Donald Trump wrote that he and his wife were “praying for your health and well-being, as well as for further progress in pursuing our common goals on behalf of the people of the United States and Belarus”. Equally charming towards Trump, on the day of the release of political prisoners Lukashenka said: “our main task is to stand by Trump and help him in his mission to establish peace. He stopped seven wars and conflicts, or six”.

December 7, 2025 - Kacper Wańczyk

A dictator’s attempt to enforce timelessness

Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s obsession with time suggests that it has become one of the regime’s main enemies. To counter it, the regime has been mobilizing considerable resources in an effort even if not so much to win the battle, but at least to delay the inevitable.

December 7, 2025 - Tatsiana Astrouskaya

In search of a new “Global East”

Belarus has long been preparing for the arrival of a new world order. It has been working on it politically, economically, diplomatically and culturally, but above all, through sustained propaganda efforts. The question is: what exactly does Minsk mean by referring to the Global East

December 7, 2025 - Justyna Olędzka

Hybrid relations in times of war

The deterioration of Belarusian-Ukrainian relations after February 2022 did not mean the absence of Belarusians on the Ukrainian side. On the contrary, while Lukashenka aligned himself with Moscow and allowed Russian forces to use Belarusian territory for the assault on Kyiv, many of his opponents chose a different path.

December 7, 2025 - Yevhen Magda

Losing people, losing growth

Over the past five years, Belarus has faced a shrinking labour market, which is a serious problem for its economic future. While demographic factors have played a role in this regard, it is the large-scale emigration of Belarusians that has had the most damaging effects.
December 7, 2025 - Anastasiya Luzgina

Ukraine’s energy defence: how cogeneration and decentralized solutions are shaping a new model of resilience

As Russia turns Ukraine’s energy system into a target of daily strikes, the country is building a new model of resilience — based on decentralized generation and mobile cogeneration solutions. These technologies, capable of operating autonomously even during a complete blackout, are already forming “energy islands” for hospitals, water utilities, and district heating systems. In 2025, cogeneration has become one of the key tools of energy defence: from the rapid restoration of critical infrastructure to the creation of microgrids that withstand attacks where traditional generation can no longer cope.

December 4, 2025 - Yuliia Valova

Priorities of the new coalition government in the Czech Republic following the elections

The recent elections in the Czech Republic are likely to result in key changes in the country’s outlook. A turn away from current levels of support for Ukraine could well be sidelined by desires for more internal funding. Despite this, it is uncertain to what extent the new government will embark on this new course.

November 18, 2025 - Michal Lebduška

Russia’s long game in Africa and Latin America

It began with bananas and Soviet-era weapons. In early 2024, Ecuador tried to offload its ageing Russian arms stockpile to the United States, which intended to pass it on to Ukraine. Moscow responded with a trade war, partially banning Ecuadorian banana imports and sending shockwaves through the country’s economy. Within weeks, Quito backed off from the deal, caught between western alliances and dependence on Russian trade.

September 27, 2025 - Alice Volfson

Russian cultural diplomacy in Germany: between promoting Russia and undermining Ukraine

A number of facts testify to Russia’s destructive influence abroad through disinformation or direct interference in the domestic politics of countries, alongside the financing of political forces. Yet, there is another less obvious (and therefore even more dangerous) Russian Trojan horse – the institutions of cultural diplomacy, which under the cover of culture promote the Kremlin's agenda and anti-Ukrainian narratives. Despite the war, Germany still remains one of the most affected EU countries by Russian soft influence.

September 27, 2025 - Maria Protsiuk

Italy and Russia: a never-ending love story

In Italy, public scepticism about Russia’s war in Ukraine has grown, with recent polls showing declining support for Kyiv and rising neutrality. Some political figures, from both the right and the left, have tapped into this sentiment, highlighting its broad appeal across the spectrum. Understanding this trend requires looking at Italy’s unique political history, including the enduring legacy of its communist party during the Cold War.

September 27, 2025 - Aleksej Tilman

Europe’s heavy cost of dependency

While the European Union is developing plans to finally and completely cut itself off from Russian oil and gas supplies, the solutions it has found are less than ideal. This illustrates the challenge that Europe faces in overcoming its dependency on Russia, while at the same time not giving in to massive fossil fuel development. To make matters worse, Europe cannot escape the geopolitical dimension of fossil fuels.

September 27, 2025 - Raze Baziani

The disfigured spectrum: how post-communist legacies distort conservatism and democracy

Under one-party rule, political legitimacy does not come from adhering to constitutional limits but from exercising unchallenged authority in the name of the “correct” cause – once framed as ideological duty, now justified as cultural defence or popular sovereignty. The ingrained habit of bending institutions to political will, rather than letting them operate autonomously, was embedded in political culture over decades and passed on to the post-1989 elite, many of whom now lead ostensibly democratic states.

September 27, 2025 - Adam Reichardt