Central Europe

Taking the Three Seas Initiative to the next level

By Ian Brzezinski

The thirteen-member-state organization should transition from a loose platform into an operational entity with a permanent front office.

Shakhtar Donetsk gives Ukraine’s war-weary football fans reason to cheer

By Mark Temnycky

Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk will face English team Crystal Palace next week in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semifinal knowing that a win could provide a much-needed morale boost to millions of fans watching at home in war-torn Ukraine, writes Mark Temnycky.

Europe unites to unblock €90 billion Ukraine loan in major blow to Russia

By Peter Dickinson

The European Union finally approved a long delayed €90 billion two-year loan to Kyiv on April 23, dealing a serious blow to Russia's hopes of outlasting the West in Ukraine, writes Peter Dickinson.

From Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik: The evolution of the Three Seas Initiative

By Ian Brzezinski

While there is much to celebrate about the initiative’s accomplishments over the past decade, leaders will also need to make important and difficult decisions in Dubrovnik about how it should evolve.

What Orbán’s defeat in Hungary means for the Western Balkans

By Agon Maliqi

During his sixteen years in power, Orbán built an infrastructure of influence in the Western Balkans to support his political allies.

Magyar’s victory in Hungary should be studied by other opposition movements

By Bailey Galicia

Hungary’s recent election holds lessons for countries such as Georgia and Serbia, where divided oppositions have so far failed to turn protests into electoral wins.

Dispatches from the front lines of Russia-linked cyberattacks on Europe

Sweden recently announced that a 2025 cyberattack on a heat plant was conducted by a Russia-linked group, adding to the list of Russian aggression against European critical infrastructure.

Orbán’s Hungarian election defeat: Good for Ukraine, bad for Russia

By Peter Dickinson

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's historic election defeat has removed a major obstacle to Ukraine's EU integration while robbing Putin of his most important European ally, writes Peter Dickinson.

Brussels and Kyiv should have realistic expectations about Magyar’s Hungary

By James Batchik, Eva Mulholland

While Péter Magyar’s election victory provides ample reason for optimism, there is also good cause to temper any expectations of Hungary now playing a leading European role in support of Ukraine, write James Batchik and Eva Mulholland.