Visegrad Insight Podcast

In this special episode, we kick-off our Future of Ukraine fellowship to help Ukrainian thought leaders continue their work and tell the untold stories of the war. We introduce you to the first round of our three fellows that we have selected: Vitaly Portnikov, Christine Karelska, and Bohdan Bernatskyi. The fellows detail their experience and what they will be working on during their fellowship. S...

EU elections rules overhaul. Hungary and Slovakia has said it will not support a proposed European Union set of sanctions against Russian energy with no immediate alternatives available. The release of the 20th edition of the World Press Freedom Index shows differing paths for Visegrad countries, with Poland worsening and Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary improving. In the second part of the podcast,...

Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron wins a second term, eyes now on the parliamentary elections and its impact on the future of Central Europe. Ruling Slovenian Democratic Party led by PM Janša, conceded and was defeated by Robert Golob and his Freedom Movement. "War selfies" meetings continue in Ukraine. NATO countries meet in Germany to discuss Ukraine's long-term security needs, at the outset o...

Three outstanding Ukranian thought leaders are welcomed to the Viesgrad Insight team as the first cohort of Future of Ukraine Fellows : Bohdan Bernatskyi, Christine Karelska, and Vitaly Portnikov. Elections continue in France and Slovenia. The second phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine moves forward. Spies from Lithuania in Belarus. In the second part of the podcast, Ledion Krisafi , Research...

Future of Ukraine Fellowship funding continues with nearly 14,000 euros raised out of 20,000 - donate now to help Ukrainian thought leaders continue their work. The first presidential run-off elections in France and what it means for CEE. The EU goes to Ukraine. Controversial air siren tests in Poland on anniversary of Smolensk plane crash. Sweden and Finland debate joining NATO intensifies. As th...

Future of Ukraine Fellowship funding continues with 12,500 euros raised out of 20,000. Elections in Serbia and Hungary lead to victories for Viktor Orban and Aleksandar Vucic. The Warsaw-Budapest axis tilted for the foreseeable future. Scenarios for Serbian response to Russian invasion of Ukraine after Vucic's victory. Tensions rise with Russian minorities in Estonia and Latvia. Lithuania cuts off...

US President Joe Biden stuck in the middle of criticism after his speech in Warsaw. The latest on upcoming elections in Hungary and Serbia. Orban’s gerrymandering make opposition victory near impossible. Hungary in the neighbouring political crosshairs as Polish President Duda and Czechia Defense Minister Jana Cernochova criticise Orban’s Russia-friendly stance. In the second half of the podcast,...

The Future of Ukraine Fellowship announced, with Visegrad Insight putting up 10,000 euros and asking listeners to double this amount for several paid editorial positions on the team for Ukrainian thought leaders to tell the "untold stories" of the war. Poland as the humanitarian superpower of the crisis, with millions of refugees from Ukraine seeking safe harbor. The old friendship of Hungary-Pola...

More trouble in Hungarian electoral campaign for the Orban government’s “strategic calmness” in response to Russian invasion of Ukraine. Soviet-made drone flies over Hungary and crashes in Croatian capital, Zagreb, with a 120 kilo bomb on board. Former PM Donald Tusk travels to Hungary to endorse Peter Márki-Zay. How the Hungarian poor pay for the rich in terms of tax burden. Yavoriv training grou...

Slovakia's surprising turn to NATO. European states debate sending old Russian aircraft to Ukraine. On Friday, Viktor Orban claimed, ‘We’re caught in the crossfire between major geopolitical players’ and accused Poland of provoking Moscow by pushing Ukraine’s independence from Russia. As European and American press how ask whether Putin is really "sick", we discuss the psychology behind Putin - an...

All eyes are on Ukraine as fighting rages on for the fifth day after Russia invaded. Western allies have united in opposition to Putin's attacks, marking a turning point in German foreign policy and defense. The Visegrad Insight team gives a broad overview of the military, humanitarian, diplomatic and disinformation response of Central and Eastern European countries. Read the full outlook here . M...

Tensions continue to rise in Ukraine. Lukashenko seeks to legitimize his rule by amending the constitution through a referendum in Belarus. Disinformation surges on in CEE fueled by low levels in trust in governmental officials and institutions. Rule of law crisis in Poland continues. Radomir Kračković , journalist at TV Vijesti from Montenegro, discusses the fight against corruption and organized...

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is coming out with a ruling on the rule of law mechanism which was challenged by Poland and Hungary. After the ruling, the Commission will have to decide how to proceed with the mechanism. This while the election campaign in Hungary ramps up with the opposition fighting an uphill battle. Relevant text of the week: https://visegradinsight.eu/orban-already-prepari...

France tries to ensure leadership once more in the European transatlantic relationship. Hungarian election to be observed by a full-scale OSCE election observation. Orbán’s organisational and electoral clientelism. The political landscape of the Beijing olympics. Read our new special report on the possible Russian invasion of Ukraine and how nine CEE countries will respond: https://visegradin...

NATO's constraints on Russia and the Baltics readiness to defend the alliance. NGOs in Hungary call for a full-scale OSCE election observation. Czech Republic's plans for the EU Council Presidency are discussed. The team previews this month's outlook featured on Visegrad Insight. Zoran Necev from the  Institute for Democracy "Societas Civilis"  — Skopje, North Macedonia, speaks about eff...

Tensions continue to escalate in eastern Ukraine and allied responses are divided—most European countries are sending weapons and aid to Ukraine but Germany has sustained, going as far as blocking Estonia from sending German-made weapons. In #CEE news, the Czech Republic is likely to leave two Russian lead cooperation banks, and Slovakia is divided by Russian propaganda circling around the U.S.-Sl...

Disagreement persists between China and Lithuania, as  EU leaders scramble to come to Lithuania’s defence with a meaningful response. NGOs in Hungary fear impartial and unfair elections will take place on April 3 and call on the OSCE to send a full mission to the country. Visegrad Insight’s new Editorial Director— Miles R. Maftean —discusses the strengthening of #RoExit sentiments and highlig...

NATO and the US at the negotiation table across the Kremlin this week, with both sides seeking dialogue but reserving optimism for any potential breakthrough. Hungary continues to block ministerial-level talks between the North Atlantic Alliance and Kyiv over minority rights of ethnic Hungarians in southwestern Ukraine, while Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has received re-election endorsement and pra...

Enduring legacy of Czech Republic's first president Václav Havel commemorated on his 10 year death anniversary on Saturday as Czechia’s new foreign minister promises to revive the era of values-driven policy seen during Havel’s years. Meanwhile, Lithuania’s principled foreign policy approach is met with Chinese resistance consisting of diplomatic intimidation as well as pressure on EU compani...

Olaf Scholz picks Warsaw as the third European capital to visit in his new capacity as German Chancellor while French President Emmanuel Macron is in Budapest to sit-in on a meeting with PMs of the Visegrad countries. No representatives of the Belarus government at the upcoming EU's Eastern Partnership summit but democratic opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warmly greeted in Brussels at t...

Special edition episode dedicated to the most recent protests against a potential lithium mine in Serbia delivered by Visegrad Insight’s Programme Manager Tetiana Poliak-Grujić. She talks to Marko Savković, Executive Director of Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society from Belgrade who explains their background and potential effect, which can be beyond expected. Will the seemingly monolith...

Europe’s right-wing populist leaders convened in Warsaw ahead of Biden’s Summit for Democracy, vowing to pursue closer cooperation in the European Parliament but ultimately falling short of establishing a new, coherent political party. Russia’s military activities on border with Ukraine heightens threat perception in the West as Biden and Putin schedule a videoconference for Tuesday.  Péter M...

NATO and EU leaders tour the Baltics to address security challenges on the border with Belarus. Allies have expressed solidarity with Lithuania, Latvia and Poland ahead of the NATO foreign minister meeting in Riga. The crisis, however, remains far from over as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warns that people are still trying to enter the bloc illegally from Belarus.  More questions a...

Democratic opposition leader Sviatlana Tikhanouskaya is in Vienna ahead of the international conference on Belarus organised by Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg. European Commission sends letters to Hungary and Poland saying that problems with independence of the judiciary, failure to tackle corruption and a deficient public procurement system pose a risk to the bloc’s financial resource...

Poland, Lithuania and Latvia facing an intensified security and humanitarian crisis at the border with Belarus. Alyaksandr Lukashenka's hybrid tactic of smuggling migrants to the EU's external border is on top of the agenda at international forums like the UN Security Council, NATO and the EU. Poland and Lithuania are mulling the invocation of Article 4 to allow permanent consultation with NATO al...