Category: Blogs

Ukraine’s battlefield success should not lead us to underestimate Russia

By Peter Dickinson

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has failed to achieve any of its key goals, but this reflects Ukrainian strength rather than Russian weakness. Putin's army remains a formidable threat to Europe that must not be underestimated, writes Peter Dickinson.

Don’t call it a G7 comeback

By Bart Piasecki

The G7’s equity rebound may look broad-based. In reality, it’s largely a tale of US tech dominance, driven by the “Magnificent Seven” and an extraordinary concentration of global market power.

An oil windfall will not fix Libya’s economy

By Ahmed Shalghoum and Frank Talbot

Libya's new unified budget needs transparency, accountability, and oversight to deliver for the people.

Kyiv hosts Belarus opposition leader as Moscow drags Minsk closer to war

By Hanna Liubakova

As concern mounts that Moscow is pushing Minsk to join the invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv is strengthening ties with the democratic Belarusian opposition, writes Hanna Liubakova.

Ethiopia and Eritrea are on the brink of war again

By François Christophe

There is a real risk that the current war of words spirals out of control.

Vyshyvanka Day celebrates Ukrainian identity amid Russia’s genocidal war

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine's annual Vyshyvanka Day holiday has emerged as a simple yet profound grassroots celebration of Ukrainian national identity at a time when Russia is attempting to destroy Ukraine as a state and as a nation, writes Peter Dickinson.

As Russian losses mount in Ukraine, Putin seeks more foreign fighters

By Marc Goedemans, Katherine Spencer

With no end in sight to the invasion of Ukraine, Putin is looking to recruit more foreign fighters to counter heavy Russian losses while avoiding a politically risky mobilization, write Marc Goedemans and Katherine Spencer.

For a sustained ceasefire or truce in Sudan, remember: Trust, but verify

By Ernst Jan Hogendoorn

Negotiators should insist any ceasefire or truce agreement allows for a dedicated, on-the-ground monitoring mechanism.

Europe must address the ‘digital sovereignty triad’

By Trevor H. Rudolph

As part of its Tech Sovereignty Package, the EU is developing its own definition of digital sovereignty. But a fundamental question will likely remain: how can the bloc balance control over data, legal authority, and vendor independence while maintaining openness to global technology partners and preserving digital resilience?

Energy Sanctions Dashboard: October 2025

The October 2025 edition of the Energy Sanctions Dashboard analyzed China’s central role in the market for sanctioned oil and the techniques Russia, Iran, and Venezuela use to evade sanctions on oil.