Read more about the article Europe Adrift: The Incoming Trump Presidency and the EU’s Strategic Void in Ukraine
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Europe Adrift: The Incoming Trump Presidency and the EU’s Strategic Void in Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has exposed the critical state of the European Union’s defence and security strategies. At the same time, the EU’s Strategic Compass outlined a vision for greater defence integration, long-standing divides among member states persist, hindering coherent action. The initial unified response to Russia’s aggression has faded into a strategic divergence, with contrasting national priorities. The prospect of a Trump administration in 2025 exacerbates Europe’s security vulnerabilities, as Ukraine remains heavily dependent on US military aid. The failure to prepare for a US withdrawal leaves the EU strategically paralysed, risking both Kyiv’s sovereignty and Europe’s future security. This study explores the consequences of this strategic void and underlines the importance for the EU to develop a unified defence strategy.

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19 December 2024
Read more about the article Seabed and hybrid warfare in Europe: the strategic importance of undersea cables in the Baltic region
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Seabed and hybrid warfare in Europe: the strategic importance of undersea cables in the Baltic region

The Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine has greatly transformed the political and military landscape in Europe. Amidst a tense strategic environment, the Nordic-Baltic region has emerged as a potential point of friction between Russian and NATO allies. The undersea cables beneath the Baltic Sea, which hold a vital importance for military communications, internet, and financial traffic, are a focal point in the battlefield preparation according to the Russian hybrid war planning. This study looks at the importance of sub-sea telecommunications infrastructure in the wider Baltic region within the context of hybrid warfare.

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19 November 2024
Read more about the article Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan 
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has unveiled a bold five-part victory plan to end the war with Russia in 2024, focusing on fast-tracking NATO membership, increasing military aid, and leveraging Ukraine's economic resources. He views NATO membership as vital for Ukraine’s security and a symbolic defeat of Putin’s ambitions. While the plan has garnered some support, it faces sharp opposition from Russia, which warns of escalating conflict, and Hungary's Prime Minister Orbán, who calls for peace talks over more aid. Zelenskyy’s refusal to give away territory underscores his commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, but his success depends on continued international support amid shifting global priorities.

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8 November 2024
Read more about the article  Kursk Operation: Legal Perspectives of a Counter Offensive
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 Kursk Operation: Legal Perspectives of a Counter Offensive

The ‘Kursk Operation’ marks a pivotal moment in the War in Ukraine, shifting the dynamics of this conflict and raising some legal questions regarding the Ukrainian incursion into Russian Territory. This paper will examine the context that prompts what might be the third phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, examining the legal arguments that make this act lawful and compliant with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which grants States the right to self-defence. By analysing the right to self-defence, alongside the principles of proportionality and necessity, this paper argues that the Kursk Operation can be lawfully considered an act of self-defence. Lastly, it examines the definition of "occupation" to clarify the legal distinctions relevant to this operation.

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3 October 2024
Read more about the article The Evolution of Ukraine’s Defence Industry and Lessons for the European Union 
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The Evolution of Ukraine’s Defence Industry and Lessons for the European Union 

The Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine is entering its third year, and the debate around aiding the war-torn country is increasingly shifting towards empowering Ukraine’s domestic defence industry, to make it more autonomous against a larger and more resourceful opponent. At the same time, in 2023 the former Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin suggested that the EU could also benefit from this process by learning from the evolution of Ukraine’s defence industry (EDA, 2023). This paper will thus give a brief overview of the condition of the country’s industry before and after the war with Russia and summarise the main lessons that the EU can incorporate from the Ukrainian experience.

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2 October 2024