In the media

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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,...

While commenting on the EU-Ukraine summit, which took place on 3.02.2023 in Kyiv, dr Bonikowska drew attention to the complexity of the EU enlargement process. It is already difficult for some institutions to coordinate joint actions of member states, so the potential increase in their number to more than thirty...

Germany’s eastern policy has strained the country’s position in Europe. However, it is still the largest country in the EU in terms of population and the largest EU economy. It is also Poland’s first and most important economic partner , said Dr. Bonikowska. This is the moment in which Germany...

Any economic forecasts are too risky at the moment. But let me give you an interesting example. In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which joined the euro in a very turbulent economic period, the very impact of anticipation of accession, i.e. before their accession, was positive. Both in...

Asked to identify the most crucial changes going on in the current world, Dr. Bonikowska responded that the biggest challenge firstly is to understand that there are two proposals on the table for states to choose from regarding their political systems. On the one hand, there is a liberal system...

We are currently seeing massive rocket attacks. At one point, the Russian army was keen to stabilize the front – a strategic pause to prepare the recently mobilized citizens for combat. It seems that Russia is now more determined than at the beginning of the war. Putin is also determined...

For Putin’s Russia, now with the international status of a terrorist state, it is likely that it will continue its anti-western campaign and military attacks in Ukraine in order to achieve those victories that were planned but not realized in the last year. However, all forms of Western support for...

I perceive it as proof of weakness. The handbook recommends to emphasize that Vladimir Putin, sending troops, made the only right decision to pre-empt the impending attack by Ukraine and NATO. Of course, Russia should continue to emphasize that the special operation is successful, said Eugeniusz Smolar, the CIR expert....

The European Union is a pillar of strength and stability, said the president of CIR in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz. She also reminded that the funds from the National Reconstruction Plan mean “temporary money, so you have to hurry”. Find out more

This visit took place at an extremely important, difficult, critical moment, when you can see that Russia is using its double advantage. Numerical superiority – material and human. Ukraine must respond to this. And in order to answer, he needs strong support from the West, especially from America. Ukraine received...

The Eurobarometer shows very stable support for the Ukrainian case as well as the military domain within the EU. At the same time, however, Europeans do not want a wavering conflict or aim at overpowering Russia by any means, but prefer to end this crisis with a peaceful method of...

Eugeniusz Smolar writes that the war between Russia and Ukraine ploughed through the awareness of threats. The reorientation of Western politicians and societies is not an easy process, given the persistence of the previous assumptions and economic consequences – the energy crisis, high inflation and recession, which threatens to undermine...

There should be no illusions that Russia has enormous potential to negatively influence European security, which does not mean that Russia should find its place in the new security architecture of Europe, said Eugeniusz Smolar. He pointed out that the refusal to talk is also a form of communication while...

It so happens that in foreign policy, when we decide, for example, on sanctions against Russia, unanimity is necessary. Thus, even a small Hungary, or even a smaller Malta, can block the work of the other members, Dr. Bonikowska commented on Hungary’s actions. Hungary now takes advantage of this and...

The whole thing looks indeed theatrical, were it not for the fact that there is a social basis for right-wing radicalism, which in Germany is considered the greatest threat to the stability of democracy – Eugeniusz Smolar, CIR expert, about the detention of people suspected of preparing a coup d’état....