Beijing’s support for Russia has become indispensable to Moscow’s war effort. As the Politburo strengthens its role, Western leaders can no longer afford to view China as a neutral actor in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

As Prime Minister Viktor Orbán prepares to visit the White House and plead for mercy, US sanctions are forcing Lukoil into a fire-sale of its European refineries. Poland’s state-owned Orlen is poised to capture Hungary’s diesel market, generating billions while hastening the EU’s de-Russification push. Meanwhile, the V4 is fracturing...

Andrej Babiš has reclaimed the centre of Czech politics. His ANO 2011 topped the vote but must still assemble a majority, forcing messy deals that will shape Prague’s stance on Ukraine, the Green Deal and media freedom. But Brussels should expect tactical obstruction, not a complete rupture.

Are we in a geoeconomic game of chicken now? Russia and China bring Belarusian pocket knives (ekhm, hot air balloons) against a coordinated set of United States and European Union sanctions. As Moscow and Beijing reel from the measures, which are cutting Russian oil revenues and prompting threats of rare-earth...

Europeans have been far too polite for far too long. At Turnberry, Ursula von der Leyen played the courteous guest while Donald Trump slapped on tariffs and pocketed promises of energy and arms contracts. Washington and Moscow now chat over Ukraine’s fate as if Europe is a side dish. Our...

As the European Union (EU) commits to phasing out Russian fossil fuels by the end of 2027, energy security has become a strategic and geopolitical imperative. The ongoing war in Ukraine has only underscored what was already clear: Russia is not a reliable energy partner, having weaponised its fossil fuel...

As news of a Budapest summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin stir global anticipation, the Washington Post credits American strength for bringing Russia to the negotiating table. Yet, the prospect of such talks evokes a chilling echo of Soviet-era salami tactics mastered by Moscow agents in control of Hungary...

Europe’s economic strength and resilience will come from EU enlargement and partnerships with Ukraine, Mercosur and Latin America. To discover more perspectives on the European economic security imperative, read the recap of the latest edition of the Europe Future Forum that took place in Warsaw this September.

As the security threat from Russia continues to rise, countries are investing more in defence. This is an opportunity for growth, but also a burden at a time when many CEE economies already have high budget deficits – and as Europe faces more economic coercion, from friend and foe.

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) showed a stark split in support for Ursula von der Leyen, with 103 MEPs from the region backing her in a no-confidence vote, while 61 voted for her removal and many remained undecided, exemplifying a deep political divide within the EU also in the region.

As Hungary gears up for the 2026 elections, Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party is doubling down on anti-Ukraine rhetoric, painting Kyiv as a threat to national sovereignty and economic stability. By demonising Ukraine and linking rival Péter Magyar to foreign plots, Orbán’s propaganda machine serves Moscow’s interests while deepening Hungary’s isolation...