Analysis
Economic Security
Why Ukraine’s Fate May Depend on Beijing
4 November 2025
We sat down to speak with the author of ‘Kaput: The End of German Miracle’ and a co-founder of Eurointelligence. In a conversation with Wojciech Przybylski, Wolfgang Münchau talks about Germany’s neo-mercantilist cul-de-sac, China’s growing choke points, and why European support for Ukraine still falls short.
Read or watch the full interview below.
Wojciech Przybylski: Are you a pessimist by nature?
Wolfgang Münchau: No. I am generally optimistic, even about the United States in the long run. I have observed Europe for a long time and see a consistent pattern. Europe integrated with a single currency and a single market, yet we have common problems we do not solve, and some countries, including Poland, are not fully part of the integration. We launch programmes with big names and numbers, but they paper over issues. The pandemic recovery fund was meant to raise productivity. It did not. It was just another slush fund, a European slush.
Germany is massively dependent on three or so industries. Dependence on Russia and China followed from this. Europe as a whole is more diversified than Germany, but we do not use that advantage. We are unlike the US, where California is dependent on high tech and New York is dependent on finance, but the country as a whole is not dependent on either. This is not the case in Europe. We are in an economic downswing, squeezed by the United States and China, without the instruments or political unity to respond.
Subscribe
Democratic security comes at a price. What is yours? By subscribing or donating now gain access to analysis, forecasts and scenarios by leading analysts and reporters who monitor democratic risks and develop policy debate from Central Europe on Central Europe.
MonthlyVAT included
See all details
- Full access to articles and all reports in PDF
- Weekly outlook on democratic security in CEE delivered by e-mail
- Weekly newsletter with essential highlights
- Invitations to all Visegrad Insight events online and offline
AnnualVAT included
See all details
- Individual subscribers only. Check our CORPORATE OFFER below
- 15% Discount (8 EUR off monthly cost if paid annually)
- Full access to articles and all reports in PDF
- Weekly outlook on democratic security in CEE delivered by e-mail
- Weekly newsletter with essential highlights
- Invitations to all Visegrad Insight events online and offline
Student OR Donation
See all details
- Full access to articles and all reports in PDF
- Weekly newsletter with essential highlights
- Some Visegrad Insight events invitations
I am a representative of an institution/business. Is there a corporate offer?
The annual subscription for up to ten institutional users: EUR 999
GO TO CHECKOUT
For a tailor-made offer email us: contact@visegradinsight.eu
- Access to all articles for your team
- Access to all Reports for your team
- Every Monday a Weekly Outlook with an update on key developments in Central Europe delivered by e-mail
- Every Thursday a newsletter with the most important highlights and invitations
- Personal invitations to Visegrad Insight Events
- Foresight, policy, and risk analysis reports (on-demand)
Intelligence prepared by a group of Visegrad Insight Fellows from all across
Can I receive an invoice?
Yes. You will receive a receipt immediately after purchase and a VAT invoice upon request. The subscription amount includes tax. In case of a donation, there is no tax.
Are my credit card details safe?
Yes. The payment is processed by STRIPE www.stripe.com entrusted also by Amazon, Zoom, Booking.com and used by other global NGOs and businesses in the world. We do not store your credit card details.
How modify or cancel my subscription?
At any moment you can manage your subscription and account details. Sign in to modify or cancel.
