Ukraine

Russia’s large-scale war against Ukraine does also reflect how China and Russia are interlinked with each other to challenge the current global order. The Black Sea region has become a key area where the new European security order will be negotiated.

An edited transcript of the international debate “Do You Feel Safe?”, organized on 23 November 2022 in Bratislava. This debate, facilitated by Zuzana Maďarová (ASPEKT), Weronika Grzebalska, a Polish sociologist, and Míla O’Sullivan, Czech researcher in international relations, discussed various gender aspects of security. The event was organized by the ASPEKT organization in partnership with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague office.

How to plan for recovery in the acute stage of war and will Ukraine be able to switch to 100% renewable energy sources after the end of hostilities? What can Ukraine and the European Union do to help?

Social and care infrastructure should be at the focus of reconstruction in Ukraine not only for humanitarian reasons but also to avoid a backlash into traditional gender roles. An Interview with Galyna Kotliuk, coordinator of Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s Gender democracy Program in Ukraine.   

While the war in Ukraine has further reshaped the V4’s power dynamic, the Hungarian Government seeks allies outside of mainstream Euroatlantic cooperation to overcome its self-defeating isolation.

In recent months, we have seen anti-government protests growing in both frequency and size in the Czech Republic. What is it that draws increasing numbers of people to these demonstrations? Is this a new phenomenon, or are the crowds composed exclusively of individuals who had been radicalized in earlier periods? Why is it that they are taking to the streets now, and not a year – or five years – ago? Is there even such a thing as a tradition of radical anti-government resistance in the Czech Republic?

Russia's open military aggression against Ukraine has provoked strong reactions around the world. The V4 countries, whose outwardly apparent unity seemed to be crumbling, also took a stance. How serious is the schism between Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic on the one side and Hungary on the other? Is the breakdown of V4 inevitable or is there still a room for cooperation? Slovak political scientist Grigorij Mesežnikov reflects on the current state the Visegrad Group finds itself in.

War and armed conflict almost always go hand in hand with sexual violence – rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage. On occasions when it seems pertinent, such as in the context of the current war in Ukraine, politicians and the media talk about the issue and condemn the violence, but their rhetoric is short on substance.

Despite the high number of rapes, the judicial progress that has been made, and the judgements passed by international, national and local courts, most of the affected women are still far from receiving compensation, reparations, or recognition as a victim.

“Ceasefire without regaining control over our land means that my son will inherit this war.” In the interview, Inna Sovsun and Yehor Cherniev, members of the Verkhovna Rada, demand to stop denying what Russia's war against Ukraine is about. The conversation was conducted by Robert Sperfeld.