Welcome to LibMod’s Russia Programme

At the Munich Security Conference, John Lough spoke with Ralf Fücks about the evolving triangle between China, Russia, and Europe. The conver­sation explores the strategic logic behind the Beijing–Moscow partnership, Europe’s struggle to assert its agency, and Germany’s search for a new economic and security strategy. Can Europe turn a moment of geopo­litical pressure into one of strategic renewal? 

Russia could hardly carry out its war against Ukraine without China’s techno­logical and economic support. We discussed the impli­ca­tions for Western policy­makers at a joint event with the New Eurasian Strategies Centre (NEST) held at the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Konstantin Eggert reports.

Europe remains dependent on US military power to effec­tively deter Russia. But Washington is no longer a reliable partner committed to the defence of its European allies. Former German diplomat Johannes Regen­brecht looks at the ongoing negoti­a­tions and makes recom­men­da­tions how Europe’s untapped economic and military potential can be put into action.

Russia continues to pose a huge security challenge for Europe. Every year, the Center for Liberal Modernity invites leading experts to discuss the options for policy­makers at its “Russia and the West” conference. Our programme director Maria Sannikova’s analysis sums up the assess­ments of our last conference.

Russia is waging its full-scale war against Ukraine for four years already, but Germany and Europe are still strug­gling to find the right answers to the threat posed by Moscow. At this year’s panel discussion ‘Russia and the West’, partic­i­pants called for deter­rence and containment – but also for keeping contact with those in Russia who will be needed after the end of the regime.

Almost four years after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, historian Jan Claas Behrends (ZZF/​​European University Viadrina) takes a histor­i­cally informed look back—and warns against illusions about quick negotiated solutions. He shows how imperial tradi­tions, violent politics, and the structure of Putin’s regime are shaping the war and why conces­sions to Moscow encourage escalation.

Inter­na­tional Expert Network Russia Annual Conference RUSSIA AND THE WEST: Rethinking Europe’s Security – Key Elements of a New Russia Strategy

The disman­tling of the U.S. Agency for Inter­na­tional Devel­opment (USAID) and the ensuing freezing of foreign aid are a cause for serious concern among civil society organi­za­tions in Eastern Europe. At...

The future of Europe is at stake in the face of Russian aggression. Germany and Poland should undertake a joint effort for a new European Russia policy, finding common ground despite their entrenched differ­ences. A new start can arise from shared insight and interests, if there is political will.