More to European Defence than Meets the Eye

Leopard 2 tanks could appear in Ukraine despite the hold off on allies’ decision. Slovakia is on course for early elections in September, and Hungarian officials face criticism over their policy towards the EU neighbourhood. 

This week on Visegrad Insight:

• Vitaly Portnikov looks into the cracks of Russia’s “Unbreakable Brotherhood”.
• Nicasia Picciano analyses the Franco-German Proposal in the Western Balkans.
• Lucia Colníkov gives a breakdown of SMEs in the V4.

EU/REGIONAL

• Allies hold off decision on Leopard 2 tanks deliveries to Ukraine after talks at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Delivery of German-made Leopard 2 tanks has been sought by Ukraine and is perceived as a possible game changer on the battlefield. Some Central European countries, such as Poland, have been backing the deliveries (read more in the country-specific sections).
• Germany does not stand in the way of tank deliveries. German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock said her country “would not stand in the way” of deliveries of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine from Poland. Under the producer agreements, Germany has the right to veto the re-export of Leopard 2 tanks.
• Criticism of the World Economic Forum in Davos. World economy leaders in Davos came under criticism from the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and prominent pro-climate activist Greta Thurnberg. Guterres called on business leaders to make “credible” net-zero pledges.
• The European Parliament backed a resolution calling for a special tribunal for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. A large majority of 472 MEPs voted for the establishment of a special tribunal that would closely cooperate with the International Criminal Court. There were 19 MEPs who voted against the motion and 33 who abstained.
• EU’s Foreign Affairs Council meets on 23 January. Agenda includes Russian aggression against Ukraine, Sahel and the Western African countries, as well as current affairs focusing on Iran, Armenia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Montenegro and Ethiopia.
• International Holocaust Day will be commemorated on 27 January.
• Sanna Marin as a leading candidate to head the European Commission? Finnish media, as well as several English-speaking outlets, speculated that Socialists and Democrats EP group want Finnish Prime Minister Marin to be their candidate for EC’s top post.

Highest ranking Ukrainian official died since the start of the Russian invasion 

UKRAINE