Ukrainian Spring

Poland and Slovakia to deliver MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, and Finland’s NATO membership is on the horizon. 

Visegrad Insight this week:

• Ivan Krastev discusses what a European future can look like in a post-war world on the Visegrad Insight podcast.
• Martin Ehl showcases how Central and Eastern Europe can lead the EU with industrialisation efforts necessary for strategic autonomy.
• István Pósfai looks into how local governments have been increasingly under pressure after the pandemic strengthened centralisation measures. 
• Oleksander Kraiev analyses the intersection between US and Chinese interests in Central Europe. 
• Hybrid Defence and MiG Delivery discussion. Join our TwitterSpace on Thursday 23.03.2023 16:00 – 16:30.

Hybrid Defense and MiG Delivery

EU/REGIONAL

• ICC issues warrant for Vladimir Putin over war crimes committed by Russian forces and security services in Ukraine. 
• Xi Jinping will meet Vladimir Putin during the Chinese leader’s visit to Russia on 20-22 March. China steps up its presence on the international scene following the recent brokering of a deal restoring diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia and wants to host a Gulf Cooperation summit this year. 
• Kremlin-dominated bank is avoiding payouts to its withdrawing Central European member countries. Regional investigative and news outlet VSquare reported on the leaked documents showing the International Investment Bank (IIB) management’s fears the IIB has been facing its collapse following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its efforts to avoid payouts to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. IIB has been hosted by Hungary in Budapest, and the extensive diplomatic rights granted to its management as well as Kremlin control over the bank, have fuelled accusations the bank has been serving as a Russian spy hub inside the EU.   
• EU Foreign Affairs Council will be held on 20 March. Foreign affairs ministers will discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Tunisia and current affairs. Defence ministers will join in discussing the implementation of the Strategic Compass and EU support of Ukraine.
• European Parliament’s Special Committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation (INGE 2) to be held on 21 March.
• European Council Summit on 23-24 March. 
• Ammunition restocking deal in the making. The EU is finalising a two billion euro deal for joint restocking of ammunition supplies to Ukraine. The deal involves reimbursing, joint purchases and refilling of stocks in EU countries (except for neutral ones) and Norway.   
• Russian fighter jet damaged a US surveillance drone in international air space, causing it to crash over the Black Sea.  
• Brexit — the Windsor Framework, which is to replace the Northern Ireland protocol, will be voted on this week in the UK Parliament. Decisive for how mainstream right is able to deal with hard right radicals as DUP and Tory backbenchers pledge to vote against the bill, while the main opposition party Labour is set to vote with the government. 
• Parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan have cemented President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s rule over the country. 

Putin inspects the destruction of Mariupol and MiG deliveries

UKRAINE