“Hungary is constantly trying to balance between Russia and the European Union. And Ukraine is a hostage of Orbán’s domestic and foreign policy,” says Lukasz Polinceusz, a CIR expert, in an interview for TOKFM [13.04.2023]
When asked for his opinion on Hungary’s current international policy, Lukasz Polinceusz said that it is difficult to clearly identify Viktor Orbán’s goals. On the one hand, the head of Hungarian diplomacy meets with ministers from Russia and Belarus. On the other hand, Orbán is trying to maintain Hungary’s status...
“If the sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014 had been introduced after the annexation of Crimea, there would have been no war in Ukraine now,” says Dr Bartłomiej Nowak, an expert from CIR, in an online channel FMC27NEWS [12.04.2023]
In a special online broadcast devoted to the role of sanctions in international politics, Dr. Nowak explained that the current geopolitical situation shows the dual nature of globalization. Prior to the 2008 crisis, interdependence and globalization were seen as positive phenomena that benefited everyone in the world. However, crises, pandemics,...
“If we manage to complete the work of Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation, it will significantly affect the situation in this part of Europe,” said Janusz Reiter in a commentary for Onet [07.04.2023]
During an appearance on the “Onet Rano” program, Janusz Reiter, a former Polish ambassador to the USA and Germany and an expert on the Center for International Relations, argued that reconciliation between Poland and Ukraine must occur not only at the political but also at the social level. Reiter noted...
“President Zelensky’s visit, apart from the extremely important symbolic and social dimension, also has a practical dimension” – Dr. Bartłomiej Nowak, a CIR expert, on TVN24 [04.06.2023]
In a commentary on the TVN24 channel, Dr. Nowak emphasized that it would be extremely important for both the Polish and Ukrainian presidents to announce the schedule of work on a bilateral treaty between Poland and Ukraine and to indicate what such a treaty may contain. “In the near future,...
“Polish-Ukrainian relations may become complicated after the war, so there is no need to wait to formalize bilateral cooperation” — Dr Małgorzata Bonikowska, CIR president, on the “Podróż bez Paszportu” channel [06.04.2023]
In a commentary for the “Podróż bez Paszportu” channel, Dr Bonikowska emphasized that President Zelensky’s visit to Poland initiated a conversation about the future of Ukraine and Polish-Ukrainian relations. The reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of the conflict will be extremely important not only for Ukraine or Poland, but...
“If Ukraine manages to launch an offensive and push the Russian troops back, perhaps Putin’s inner circle will reflect on the fact that they are not winning this war,” said Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, President of CIR, in an interview with Polish Radio 24 [18.03.2023]
“There is a strong mobilization among NATO countries on the eastern flank, who are most interested in providing significant support to Ukraine so that they can carry out an offensive. It is not enough for Ukraine to simply defend themselves, nor is it enough for Russia to not win. It...
“It cannot be ruled out that, as a result of the shock after the defeats on the Ukrainian front, there will be revolts on the outskirts of the Russian Empire,” says Eugeniusz Smolar, a CIR expert, in a commentary for the Interia portal [15.03.2023].
When asked about the future of Russia, Eugeniusz Smolar stated that potential revolts could take place on the outskirts of the Russian Empire, such as in the Caucasus. In his opinion, it is possible that certain territories of little significance to Moscow may secede, and a further loss of influence...
Dalia Bankauskaite, a CIR expert, writes in her article “Lithuania’s Total Defense Review” for the National Defense University that in the age of social media and rapidly spreading information, society is vulnerable to negative influences [10.03.2023]
After its aggression in Ukraine in 2014, when Russia launched major information operations across Europe, Vilnius was better equipped than other European countries to resist damaging information attacks. Lithuania had the expertise and skills to protect its information environment by identifying, tracking, and neutralizing harmful topics and themes, uncovering false...
“The American consensus on helping Ukraine is not given once and for all,” said Dr Bartłomiej Nowak on TOK FM radio [10.03.2023]
Dr Bartłomiej Nowak noted that there appears to be a clear undermining of American policy towards Ukraine by members of the Republican party. As a result, there is an opportunity for lobbying by Europeans, diplomacy, and direct relations between leaders to play a key role. Regarding the meeting between Ursula...
“Europe is squeezed between and dependent on two giants: the US and China,” said Dr Małgorzata Bonikowska during an interview on TVP WORLD [10.03.2023]
Dr Bonikowska, the President of CIR, highlighted that one of the greatest challenges facing the EU is to reorganize its internal thinking about economic growth in light of rising tensions in the East. She emphasized the importance of boosting local production and becoming less reliant on uncertain suppliers. When asked...
“Putin’s way of thinking directly results in the escalation of war,” – Eugeniusz Smolar stated on TVN24 [18.02.2023]
In a commentary given to TVN24 following the Munich Security Conference, Eugeniusz Smolar asserted that Vladimir Putin remains driven by imperial thinking, which rejects the notion of an independent Ukraine. The Russian president primarily relies on the West’s exhaustion, while Joe Biden’s visit to Poland intends to demonstrate the contrary....
“Poland’s intricate relationship with Russia is closely intertwined with Germany and Ukraine. Simultaneously, Poland’s experience with Russia holds significant importance within the broader European relationship with Russia,” written for Zentrum Liberale Moderne, Janusz Reiter, Chairman of the CIR Board [16.02.2023]
In a policy paper titled ‘Poland’s Triangular Russia Policy,’ Janusz Reiter discusses the complex relationship between Poland and Russia, considering the significant role of Germany and Ukraine. Polish-German and Polish-Ukrainian relations have always been asymmetrical. Germany and Russia have been crucial players for Poland, and historically, they were seen as...
“Sentimentality, which has grown up over the course of several centuries, plays an important role in relations between Poland and Turkey”, said dr. Bruno Surdel, Turkey expert at the Centre for International Relations on DW – Deutsche Welle [15.02.2023]
Poland recognizes the geopolitical significance of Turkey, its function as a bridge between the Middle East and Europe, between Russia and Europe, and its military strength. And then there is Poland’s political realism in recognizing Turkey as a superregional geopolitical power – said dr Bruno Surdel, Turkey expert at the...
Diplomatic Coffee: China
Centre for International Relations invites you to another conversation in Diplomatic Coffee series, organized by the CIR-CSM jointly with the National Geographic Traveler Polska, THINKTANK and Weco-Travel. ? Our guest is Prof. Bogdan Góralczyk, a lecturer at the University of Warsaw, sinologist, former diplomat, and author of “The Chinese Triptych.”...
“We know when wars begin, but we cannot imagine their end,” – Eugeniusz Smolar in the podcast Esencja Kwadransa [13.02.2023]
In a speech delivered to the students of Szkoła z Charakterem in Gliwice, Poland, Eugeniusz Smolar highlighted the challenges arising from the limited availability of information regarding the war. We lack knowledge of specific war plans, struggle to verify many official statements, remain uncertain about the extent of the Russian...
“The more countries are involved in the war in Ukraine, the greater the uncertainty of how it may end” – Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska on the latest events in Iran, Israel, Turkey and the Czech Republic on the Nowa Konfederacja channel [09.02.2023]
It is known that Russia is trying to increase the number of international allies who will indirectly help the Russian government in the war with Ukraine. One of them is definitely Iran because drones of Iranian production are present in the airspace of Ukraine. We also know about the involvement...
“The European Union says to Ukraine: we are with you, we want you in the European family. It sends a message to Russia: we will not let go, we stand by Ukraine” – Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska in Super Express [06.02.2023]
It has never happened before that a country started accession negotiations in a war situation. The EU shows Ukraine how important their cooperation is, and sends a clear message to Russia that it does not accept their actions. Unfortunately, there are clear divisions within the EU. It is worth noting,...
“It is very good that this balloon was shot down because it sends a clear signal. China – whatever it says – cannot have the slightest hope of flying over the territory of the United States” – Dr. Bonikowsja on Polish Radio [05.02.2023]
It is a matter of the coming months. Balloons will not be crucial, but what China will do in the context of Russia will be crucial. This year will be largely decisive for the war in Ukraine. Of course, the United States has become fully involved. There is no turning...
“The EU recovery plan is largely unrelated to the ongoing political dynamics in Poland,” stated Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska during her appearance on the Reset Obywatelski channel [05.02.2023]
When questioned about the current progress of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), Dr. Bonikowska highlighted the widespread confusion resulting from the political turmoil surrounding this initiative. The NRP, which is part of the “Next Generation EU” fund, goes beyond simply rebuilding the European Union after the pandemic. It aims to...
“Ukraine’s war or the West’s war? The West has united in support provided for fighting Ukraine, but this unity is fragile and full of tensions” – Eugeniusz Smolar for Gazeta Wyborcza [03.02.2023]
Eugeniusz Smolar writes about the differences in the attitudes of the West toward the current situation in Ukraine. The two main differences are the scale of the necessary involvement in military aid and the possible prospects for ending the war. Ukraine has advanced in the strategic thinking of the West,...