Moldovan Cabinet Resigned Under Pressure From Russia

A surprise resignation of a pro-European government in Moldova brings more focus on the security of the EU candidate country. Zelenskyy tours Europe power centres as Orbán is left watching the Ukrainian President’s celebrity reception in Brussels.

This week on Visegrad Insight:

• Christine Karelska investigates the global rise, influence and atrocities of the Wagner Group.
• Dorka Takacsy analyses why Hungarian students can miss out on the Erasmus and Horizon programmes.
• Jakub Eberle and Daniel Šitera warn Central Europe about the risks of feeling morally superior to allies in the battle against Russia.
• Johanna Patricius breaks down the complications for Sweden and Finland’s NATO accession.
• Laura Gheorghiu looks into the life of the philosopher, political analyst, journalist and politician Gáspár Miklós Tamás.

EU/REGIONAL

• EU’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council – 14 February – will focus on the economic impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as well as on the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Eurogroup is to hold a meeting ahead of the Ecofin on 13 February and discuss developments in the energy markets.
• Poland is lobbying for a ban on Russian synthetic rubber to be part of the next round of EU sanctions to be introduced on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
• After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the EU leaders issued a resolution at the European Council in which they reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression and urged Russia to get all of its troops out of Ukraine immediately.
• In 2022, wind and solar generated a record fifth of EU electricity (22 per cent), for the first time overtaking fossil gas (20 per cent) and remaining above coal power (16 per cent) – according to the latest EMBER report on EU electricity. The report expects Europe to witness a huge fall in the use of fossil fuels this year – specifically, for coal and gas power. (Read how Europe can embrace the transition to renewable energy here.)

Zelenskyy is applauded in Europe as Ukraine faces more attacks from Russia 

UKRAINE