![“Belarus is not an independent state. It is a vassal territory of Russia. Russia not only has troops there, but dominates in all dimensions,” – says Dr. Malgorzata Bonikowska, president of CIR, for TVN24 [16.05.2023]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/345788708_550048270634806_6391077461299996913_n-1-1024x576.jpg)
In the media
“Belarus is not an independent state. It is a vassal territory of Russia. Russia not only has troops there, but dominates in all dimensions,” – says Dr. Malgorzata Bonikowska, president of CIR, for TVN24 [16.05.2023]
Dr. Malgorzata Bonikowska discussed the second round of elections in Turkey and the significance of Lukashenko and Belarus to Russia during an interview with TVN24. According to Bonikowska, the re-election of Erdogan in Turkey seems highly probable, given the disappointment among young voters who supported the opposition candidate. Additionally, the...
![“The Union cannot be self-centered, as it is largely inclined to do so by its nature,” says Janusz Reiter, a CIR expert and former Polish ambassador to the US and Germany, in a podcast for TOKFM [15.05.2023]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/276.png)
In the media
“The Union cannot be self-centered, as it is largely inclined to do so by its nature,” says Janusz Reiter, a CIR expert and former Polish ambassador to the US and Germany, in a podcast for TOKFM [15.05.2023]
During a podcast interview with TOKFM, Janusz Reiter highlights the European Union’s shift in domestic policy away from self-focus and towards global influence. According to Reiter, the EU is now actively engaged in shaping the world and establishing beneficial alliances, particularly with the United States. Reiter believes that enlargement of...
![“A large part of the Turkish people are tired of Erdogan’s authoritarian style,” – Dr. Malgorzata Bonikowska, president of CIR, said in an interview with the “Ad Persnam” channel [14.05.2023]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/maxresdefault-3-1024x576.jpg)
In the media
“A large part of the Turkish people are tired of Erdogan’s authoritarian style,” – Dr. Malgorzata Bonikowska, president of CIR, said in an interview with the “Ad Persnam” channel [14.05.2023]
During the live interview, Dr. Bonikowska discussed the outcomes of the initial round of elections in Turkey. She provided insights into how Turks perceive Erdogan and the political ideologies he embodies. The topic of Turkey’s NATO membership and its aspiration to join the European Union was also addressed. Furthermore, inquiries...
![“Germany faces the challenge of lacking sufficient reliable partners to engage in effective political collaborations,” stated Janusz Reiter, an expert from the Center for International Relations (CIR) and former Polish ambassador to both the United States and Germany, during a discussion at Wszechnica FWW [14.05.2023]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Niemcy-reiter.png)
In the media
“Germany faces the challenge of lacking sufficient reliable partners to engage in effective political collaborations,” stated Janusz Reiter, an expert from the Center for International Relations (CIR) and former Polish ambassador to both the United States and Germany, during a discussion at Wszechnica FWW [14.05.2023]
During the program hosted by Jerzy Marek Nowakowski, the guests engaged in discussions regarding various topics, including Germany’s attitude towards weakening Poland, the state of German-American relations, the Polish perception of distrust towards Germans, Poland’s role in Ukraine’s potential membership in the European Union, Germany’s historical and present strategies towards...
![“We really need to deliver the weapons quickly. It’s the only chance for the Ukrainian Army to prevail,” stated Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, President of CIR, during an interview on TVP World [13.05.2023]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bez-tytulu-1024x570.png)
In the media
“We really need to deliver the weapons quickly. It’s the only chance for the Ukrainian Army to prevail,” stated Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, President of CIR, during an interview on TVP World [13.05.2023]
The likelihood of pushing back Russian forces is high, but the Ukrainian army requires weapons. The issue for the U.S. and Europe is that their factories produce weapons and ammunition as they would during peacetime, while the Russian military industry operates as if it were wartime, as stated by Dr....
![“NATO is a political-military alliance, not a military-political alliance, where the decision of one member, be it Turkey, Bulgaria, or Hungary, can hinder the functioning of the alliance as a whole. Hence the significance of bilateral relations with the United States,” stated Eugeniusz Smolar, an expert from CIR, during a discussion on the program “Prawo dla Niuansu” [27.04.2023]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/maxresdefault-2-1024x576.jpg)
In the media
“NATO is a political-military alliance, not a military-political alliance, where the decision of one member, be it Turkey, Bulgaria, or Hungary, can hinder the functioning of the alliance as a whole. Hence the significance of bilateral relations with the United States,” stated Eugeniusz Smolar, an expert from CIR, during a discussion on the program “Prawo dla Niuansu” [27.04.2023]
During the discussion on the program “Prawo do Niuansu,” hosted by Jaroslaw Kuisz, various topics were discussed, including the contrasting reception of migrants from the Belarusian and Ukrainian borders, the operations and functioning of NATO and the EU, Poland’s armament, its position within Europe, relations with China, and geopolitical threats...
![“Merkel had considerable sympathy and understanding towards Poland, but there was one matter in which she refused to compromise with any nation, even a friendly one,” stated Janusz Reiter, an expert from the Center for International Relations (CIR) and former Polish ambassador to the United States and Germany, in his article published in Rzeczpospolita [18.04.2023]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Merkel-RP.png)
In the media
“Merkel had considerable sympathy and understanding towards Poland, but there was one matter in which she refused to compromise with any nation, even a friendly one,” stated Janusz Reiter, an expert from the Center for International Relations (CIR) and former Polish ambassador to the United States and Germany, in his article published in Rzeczpospolita [18.04.2023]
Janusz Reiter, an expert on international relations and former Polish ambassador to the US and Germany, voices his opinion in an article published in Rzeczpospolita regarding the reasons behind German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarding Angela Merkel with a prestigious decoration. According to Reiter, Merkel believed that maintaining Germany’s economic strength...
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sankcje-jako-bron.-Bartlomiej-Nowak-Pawel-Wojciechowski-1024x576.jpg)
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Janusz-Reiter-Ukraina-chce-sie-stac-czescia-Zachodu-w-sposob-trwaly-1024x576.jpg)
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/339659839_1213971345901751_4548757618095787073_n-1024x527.jpg)
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Zelenski-Mam-nadzieje-ze-miedzy-Polska-a-Ukraina-nie-bedzie-granic-dr-M.-Bonikowska-1024x576.jpg)
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Migi-dla-Ukrainy.png)
In the media
“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].](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Putin.png)
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Litwa.png)
In the media
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...
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/10.03.2023-1024x514.png)
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SQUARE_1280-1024x1024.jpg)
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/JR-Zentrum-Liberale-1024x625.png)
In the media
“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]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DW-Turkey-1024x448.jpg)
In our opinion
“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...
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