Tag: Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking at MSC.

From Munich to Munich? Three Years of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

Written on 24. February 2025. Posted in English.

Three years ago, in Ukraine, I was awoken at 4:45 am by a frightening noise unlike anything I had ever heard. I stared into the darkness behind the window and told myself: it’s not true, it’s not a war, it’s just military exercises. Yet the nightmare of Russia’s full-scale military invasion was real and continues to this day. Since then, Ukrainians have been standing, fighting, and defending themselves, resisting not only Russia but also prophesies of disaster and efforts to undermine support for Kyiv. Despite this, the Ukrainian army still stands and it holds the key to the future.

Zelensky and Macron look at Trump, who turns slightly, Macron grabs Trump's arm.

How a Sustainable Ceasefire Between Russia and Ukraine Could be Reached

Written on 24. February 2025. Posted in English.

The Trump administration’s recent actions have left many uncertain about the prospects and trajectory of the Russo-Ukrainian war. False certainties and anxious interpretations abound. However, some clear tendencies have emerged from Trump’s first few months in office as well as from his last term. Europe’s leaders, while trapped between Trump’s geopolitical flailing, Putin’s ongoing war efforts, and a continent-wide surge in nationalist sentiments, have options at their disposal that could significantly shape upcoming decisions. A lot is at stake, and the time to act is now.

Three groups of icons representing people have shapes travelling between them and a page in the middle of the image. The page is a simple rectangle with straight lines representing data. The shapes traveling towards the page are irregular and in squiggly bands.

Germany’s Fragmented Approach to Disinformation in 2025 Elections

Written on 3. February 2025. Posted in English, Voting for Peace? PRIF Blog Series on the 2025 Federal Election.

With elections taking place in less than a month, Germany finds itself faced with a critical challenge: foreign influence and disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining democratic processes. As Anne Applebaum warns, authoritarian regimes are no longer passive observers but rather active participants in spreading narratives that target the core ideals of freedom and democracy. In Germany, the government’s fragmented approach to countering disinformation only underscores the urgent—and, given recent developments, long overdue—need for a more proactive strategy for better understanding and addressing disinformation–during elections and beyond them.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy sitting at a conference desk and speaking into a microphone. In front of him on the desk is a nameplate with "UKRAINE" written on it.

Is Lawfare Fair? Russia’s Illegal War and the International System

Written on 31. January 2025. Posted in English.

The search for recognised political legitimacy and legality is integral to states which take part in the international system. As Moscow’s acts of aggression continue in Ukraine, the international community has not been able to end the war, nor appropriately address its illegality. With Russia’s actions strictly going against international law, the use of legal means to lock-in the status quo has been a key part of the Russian war strategy. This blog conceptualises lawfare and contextualises its uses by Russia at the UN level.

Im Bildvordergrund ist ein Denkmal: Das Denkmal besteht aus den Skulpturen eines Jungen und eines Mädchens in Form von Engeln mit verbrannten Flügeln, die über einen Granitblock fliegen, der eine Explosion darstellt. Im Hintergrund sind Bäume und ein Gebäude zu sehen.

Die Wahlprogramme zu Russlands Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine

Written on 29. January 2025. Posted in Deutsch, Voting for Peace? PRIF Blog Series on the 2025 Federal Election.

Kein Krieg prägt derzeit die europäische Politik so sehr wie die russische Aggression gegen die Ukraine. Viele Parteien halten es für wichtig, in ihren Programmen zur Bundestagswahl festzuhalten, wie sie zu diesem Konflikt und dessen Protagonisten stehen. Dieser Beitrag verschafft einen einordnenden Überblick über die Positionen derjenigen Parteien, denen Umfragen realistische Chancen geben, mindestens mit Gruppenstärke in den Bundestag einzuziehen.

Two men sit on chairs and shake hands facing each other. American and Russian Flags in the background.

Reducing Nuclear Threats: Why Talks on Ending the War in Ukraine Should Include Agreements on Nuclear Risk Reduction

Written on 7. January 2025. Posted in English, PRIF Spotlight, The US Presidential Election 2024, Voting for Peace? PRIF Blog Series on the 2025 Federal Election.

As the new U.S. administration pivots toward negotiating a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, the growing nuclear threat from Russia demands urgent attention. Drawing on Cold War history and negotiation research, this analysis highlights how arms control – formal or informal – can help curb nuclear risks even in the most volatile crises. German and transatlantic policy makers should therefore integrate practical arms control and risk reduction measures into ceasefire discussions to safeguard European security and prevent nuclear escalation.

Menschenmenge mit Auto, auf dem viele Menschen stehen und eine Frau schwingt eine syrische Flagge. Im Hintergrund Palmen, Hochhäuser und ein Berg.

Syrien: Blitzoffensive der islamistischen Rebellenallianz stürzt Assad

Written on 10. December 2024. Posted in Deutsch.

Eine Blitzoffensive der islamistischen Rebellenallianz markiert das Ende des Assad-Regimes. Ende November 2024 erobern die Rebellen mit rasantem Tempo große Städte, und Anfang Dezember fällt auch Damaskus. Der Zusammenbruch der Ba’ath-Regime-Truppen erfolgt wie ein Dominoeffekt, und Baschar Al-Assad ist im russischen Exil – ein Wendepunkt im syrischen Bürgerkrieg. Der Beitrag beleuchtet die Hintergründe der dramatischen Ereignisse in Syrien und wirft einen Blick auf die Zukunft des Landes.

Ein Gebäude wird aus der Froschperspektive durch einen schwarzen Eisenzaun gezeigt. Auf dem Gebäude weht die russische Flagge.

Von Verflechtung zu Koexistenz: Abgrenzung als Friedensstrategie nach dem Krieg gegen die Ukraine?

Written on 4. December 2024. Posted in Deutsch, Voting for Peace? PRIF Blog Series on the 2025 Federal Election.

Krieg ist kein unvermeidbares Schicksal und eine friedliche Welt ist möglich – dieser Optimismus der Friedensforschung wird durch Russlands Angriffs- und Eroberungskrieg einer harten Bewährungsprobe ausgesetzt. Jenseits der drängenden Frage, wie der Krieg gegen die Ukraine beendet werden kann, stellt sich der Friedensforschung ein grundlegendes Problem: Wie kann eine wirklich friedliche Weltordnung heute überhaupt noch aussehen? Der Versuch, Frieden durch Verflechtung und Angleichung zu schaffen, ist im Fall Russlands gescheitert. Kann Frieden durch Abgrenzung eine tragfähige Alternative darstellen?

Sweden’s Accession to NATO: What Is behind the Decision?

Written on 17. October 2024. Posted in English, PRIF Spotlight.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has echoed in Northern Europe and in the Arctic, where Russia is one of the most influential actors. The region’s security landscape has been significantly transformed after Finland and Sweden, two countries that had previously preferred cooperation with NATO over full membership, joined the Alliance. Because Finland shares a common land border with Russia, its decision was met internationally with reserved understanding. Sweden, however, is in a comparatively unthreatened region, thus for actors outside Northern Europe it was an unexpected move. So, was Stockholm’s decision really surprising? Why did it happen, and what are the potential consequences?

Flags of the BRICS countries are waved in a rain of confetti.

In the Run-Up to the BRICS+ Summit: Russia’s BRICS+ Soft Power Offensive in Fashion and Sport

Written on 10. October 2024. Posted in English, PRIF Spotlight.

Isolating Russia is a key element of the West’s response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. However, this strategy has only been partially successful. After more than two years of fighting, Russia has found ways to circumvent economic sanctions and political exclusion. This year’s BRICS+ summit, to be held in Kazan in October, is likely to illustrate this development. Russia will host a summit of the highest political and economic importance, bringing together leading powers from different regions of the world. This Spotlight unpacks and evaluates the effectiveness of Russia’s efforts to counter Western isolationist strategies by using soft power initiatives in the areas of fashion and sport in the run-up to the summit.

Publication languages:

Podcast PRIF TALK: