Latest Articles about Europe
Russia Occupies Zaporizhzhia Oblast the Cossack Way
Executive Summary: Moscow and the All-Russia Cossack Society completed the documentation necessary to create full-fledged Russian Cossack societies in Ukraine's occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast. The Kremlin may use Russian Cossack organizations in Ukraine as a pretext to mobilize men while simultaneously providing a new legitimation for... MORE
Ukraine Leads World in Drone Innovation and Production
Executive Summary: Russia’s war in Ukraine has become the world’s first drone, digital, and cyber war, and resilience, innovation, adaptation, and quick learning has allowed Ukraine to keep one step ahead of Russia. Ukraine is fighting a people’s war, and its military-industrial complex has significantly... MORE
Beyond the List: The Broad Range of United Front Work in Sweden
Executive Summary: Sweden contains at least 103 organizations that are part of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) united front system and exist across the country’s culture, business, politics, and education sectors. The organizations promote strengthening cultural, economic, and technological ties with the PRC and amplify... MORE
The Qin Gang Saga Reveals Security Gaps
Executive Summary: In June 2023, Qin Gang, the former foreign minister of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), mysteriously disappeared, with rumors speculating torture and execution. Recent reports suggest that he remains alive and has been demoted to a deputy director position at World Affairs... MORE
Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan Attempts to Redefine Victory and Defeat
Executive Summary: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a “victory plan” to the Joe Biden administration and two US presidential candidates. The plan envisages arming Ukraine adequately for negotiating “peace through strength” with Moscow as well as strengthening economic sanctions on Russia. The military situation, damaged... MORE
Belarus Offers Reset of Bilateral Relations to Lithuania
Executive Summary: Belarusian Foreign Affairs Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov published an op-ed outlining Minsk’s assessment of the current and prospective bilateral relations between Belarus and Lithuania, signaling a desire from Minsk to further engage with Vilnius in the future. In Vilnius, Ryzhenkov’s suggestions were received coldly,... MORE
Russia Updates Nuclear Doctrine, Lowering Threshold for Use of Nuclear Weapons (Part 1)
Executive Summary: The Kremlin announced updates to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons by expanding the list of conditions that would justify such a measure. These updates are intended to serve as a warning to the West and legitimize... MORE
Russian Disinformation Targets the European Union
Executive Summary: Russia continues to conduct misinformation campaigns against Europe. As its war in Ukraine continues and Europeans become tired of the prolonged conflict, fewer people will be engaged and thus more susceptible to disinformation coming from Russia. Russia’s current disinformation campaign revolves around three... MORE
Saimaa Canal Becomes a Flashpoint at Finnish-Russian Border
Executive Summary: The Saimaa Canal, linking Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland via Russian territory, is becoming a flashpoint in the deteriorating relationship between Moscow and Helsinki and, more generally, between Russia and NATO. Both Russia and Finland have cut back their use of... MORE
Moscow Uses Cossacks’ Cultural Significance as Part of New War Narrative
Executive Summary: Russia is more openly highlighting the significant role Cossacks are taking in its war against Ukraine and within Russian society through the media and promoting cultural and militaristic Cossack events and organizations. The Kremlin’s transition to promoting the Cossack narrative versus its previous... MORE