Visegrad Insight Podcast

In this Visegrad Insight podcast, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Sigita Struberga (Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, Organisation Women for Security) about what the 2026 Munich Security Conference revealed about Europe's strategic direction, defence-industrial reality and the eastern flank's expectations of partners.We discuss:– Why ‘national interests' rhetoric is back and what it means for the Euro-Atlantic community– ‘Rearmament without warmongering' and the politics of long war preparation– Baltic ‘total defence' thinking, societal resilience and the demand for measurable results– EU defence industry modernisation and the coming competition inside EuropeRead Sigita Struberga's article based on this conversation: https://visegradinsight.eu/europe-is-preparing-but-baltic-states-want-action/Subscribe to Visegrad Insight: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-account/membership-levels/Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/EIA6GLeJW7MListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uoWUeqvhpI5ddsrbxjJnz?si=rUW2CrKqTNeGtyDafbl-VwListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/europe-is-preparing-the-baltics-want-action/id1515725435?i=1000750307371&l=en-GB

Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Maria Repko, Deputy Director at the Centre for Economic Strategy in Kyiv, about how Ukraine's economy functions under winter blackouts, missile attacks and a war-driven defence industry boom.In this episode:– What daily life looks like in Kyiv at -20 degrees with rationed electricity and broken heating– Why Ukrainians reject the ‘resilience' label and what it obscures– Poland–Ukraine cooperation after Donald Tusk's visit and the shift from ‘emotional' to ‘rational' politics– The SAFE mechanism, EU defence funding and why Ukraine's defence industry iterates faster– What to expect from the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk– Why ‘closing the sky' matters more than any reconstruction cheque– Frozen Russian assets and what Europe signals by keeping them immobilisedSubscribe for more conversations on democratic security, security policy and political economy in Central Europe.Support independent journalism and analysis: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-account/membership-checkout/Podcast listeners' code: visegrad35 (35 per cent off yearly subscription)Watch on YouTube: Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wOAm6tjBMzvqgtAX7XaIg?si=qapxXc0JTUKBU0ddYk9RjAListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/ukraines-economy-is-growing-despite-genocide/id1515725435?i=1000749271637&l=en-GB00:00 Guest intro: Ukraine's economy under war00:25 Podcast intro and context01:38 Kyiv winter, vulnerability and survival02:08 Heating destruction and electricity rationing04:21 ‘We do not like the word resilience anymore'05:16 Poland's visit to Kyiv, new cooperation agenda07:58 From ‘emotional' to ‘rational' bilateral politics11:16 Subscription message (promo code)11:40 Ukraine Recovery Conference and diplomacy track13:15 Why the conference matters (Berlin, Rome, now Gdańsk)14:23 A new defence pillar and business-driven recovery15:13 ‘Close the sky': prevention over recovery17:21 Where frozen assets sit and why it stays opaque18:50 Europe's credibility and deterrence signal29:51 Why financial support underpins state capacity30:56 Deterrence logic and Russia's military spending32:29 Why Russia is not preparing to stop34:07 Outro

President Petr Pavel accuses Foreign Minister Petr Macinka of blackmail, triggering what may become an emerging constitutional crisis. In this videocast, Wojciech Przybylski and Pavel Havlíček discuss what the scandal means for Czech foreign policy, defence spending and the stability of Andrej Babiš's coalition, including the influence of the ‘motorists' movement and Filip Turek.Read the text version of the interview: https://visegradinsight.eu/macinka-pavel-scandal-cohabitation-czechia/Our analysis on the topic: https://visegradinsight.eu/political-cohabitation-in-czechia-turns-into-a-house-of-cards-play/Pavel Havlíček is a 2021/2022 Marcin Król Fellow at Visegrad Insight. He is also a Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) Research Centre. His research focus is on Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine and Russia, and the Eastern Partnership.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-f1dKl4GlXIListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5trSyFe9Mh4XAZSqAgwr5t?si=-G60rjCtSjyKa-DRLu12VgListen on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/AqXhN

Wojciech Przybylski talks with Radu Albu-Comanescu (Babeș-Bolyai University, Visegrad Insight Fellow) about what the World Economic Forum revealed about geostrategy, defence and the new rules of engagement from Washington, with uncomfortable implications for Central and Eastern Europe.In this episode: – Why this Davos felt ‘geopolitically consistent'– Reactions to the ‘Board of Peace' idea from Central and Eastern Europe– Greenland and the High NorthRomania and Poland's balancing act: economic security in the European Union, hard security with the United StatesThe China question Europe keeps postponing, at its own riskFollow Visegrad Insight for analysis on democratic security, geopolitical risk and the future of Central Europe. Subscribe for our newsletter and more exclusive content: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-account/membership-levels/Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zR_rnyT6dzY

Is 2026 the last year of war or the first year of peace in Europe?In this Visegrad Insight online discussion, Monika Sus and Wojciech Przybylski map out the key forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in 2026 and beyond: where democratic security is most vulnerable, and what ‘war fatigue' and hybrid warfare can do to elections and institutions.The conversation weighs plausible 2026 scenarios for the Russia-Ukraine war, including the risks of a ‘pause' rather than a settlement, and assesses how the United States, Russia and China shape Europe's security system. It also explores Europe's readiness for turbulence: defence production, resilience against sabotage and disinformation and the strategic stakes of European Union enlargement, from Ukraine and Moldova to the Western Balkans.This episode is for anyone searching for a sober prognosis of what could happen in 2026, from political dynamics to security risks and economic security choices.Recorded online on 15 January 2026.Watch on YT: https://youtu.be/UwKmeijXz-YListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tRPrp0jZWuWqd1UiNkVGv?si=qZHmFrW6T_29apn_Zt6lMgListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/the-last-year-of-war-or-peace-foresight-for-2026/id1515725435?i=1000746025538&l=en-GB

In this Visegrad Insight podcast episode, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Anna Gielewska of  ⁨@vsquare_project⁩  about a cross-border investigation with Front Story and Context Romania. They discuss alleged undeclared online support linked to Romanian far-right politician George Simion during Karol Nawrocki's presidential campaign, what can and cannot be proven, and why Poland's rules on in-kind support look outdated in the platform era. The conversation also touches on the United States National Security Strategy and the European Union debate on a Democracy Shield.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZTkBEeP9os4

Does the European Union have an ‘intelligent' green strategy that is failing in practice while Hungary pursues a ‘dumb' one that seems to work?In this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Hungarian journalist Vilmos Weiler about the surge of Chinese and Korean battery investments in Hungary and what this means for European competitiveness, economic security and environmental safety.This podcast is a part of our Europe Future Forum Polish-Hungarian Perspectives project. Through a programme of meetings with experts, political advisers and opinion leaders from both countries, we aim to explore Poland's and Hungary's perspectives on the transformations underway in the European Union at the threshold of an age of economic warfare. Supported by the Wacław Felczak Institute for Polish-Hungarian Cooperation.Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0ZVjpVC-rAListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rS975XzpvScfteSbUFuaM?si=fA_K_aAVSkytXZmjQ15A4g

Wojciech Przybylski unpacks the new United States national security strategy and its ‘chaotic hypocrisy' towards Europe, then turns to Hungary to ask what an honest energy transition would really look like.In conversation with Ada Ámon, executive director of the Budapest Climate Agency, this episode explores:– How deeply Hungary is locked into Russian oil, gas and nuclear fuel– Why successive governments chose cheap energy over efficiency and resilience– How Hungarian households have already shown they can cut consumption by twenty to thirty per cent– How EU funds were diverted away from citizens and into government buildings, weakening real climate action– What smarter pricing, better incentives and local innovation could do for Hungary's energy futureThis podcast is a part of our Europe Future Forum Polish-Hungarian Perspectives project. Through a programme of meetings with experts, political advisers and opinion leaders from both countries, we aim to explore Poland's and Hungary's perspectives on the transformations underway in the European Union at the threshold of an age of economic warfare. Supported by the Wacław Felczak Institute for Polish-Hungarian Cooperation.

Why is Ukraine plastered across Hungary's billboards and campaign ads as if it were on the ballot itself? And what does Viktor Orbán really gain from keeping Volodymyr Zelensky in the minds, hearts and social media algorithms of Hungarians?In this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Viktória Serdült, journalist at HVG in Budapest, about how Ukraine became the central prop of Hungary's permanent election campaign.Together they discuss:How the ‘pro-war / pro-peace' propaganda line turned into a full-blown anti-Ukraine campaign in HungaryWhy Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen and Péter Magyar are glued together on Fidesz billboards as the alleged ‘pro-war' trioWhat ordinary Hungarians actually think about the war and Ukraine's EU membership, beyond government messagingThe role of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine and long-term mistrust in shaping public opinionHow agriculture, gas transit and EU funds quietly sit behind the slogans about peace and sovereigntyWhy Russia is barely mentioned in Budapest's rhetoric about a war that Moscow startedWhat to watch in 2025–2026 as Hungary heads into yet another high-stakes electoral cycle with Ukraine at the centreWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jdmBOuqQgLwListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DjmhfAz6U2y4zOqa9zQ5u?si=z-nh1ZYNQj6dtGUp1V3Kbg

In April 2026, Hungarians go to the polls again. The choice is framed as ‘war and peace' by Viktor Orbán, and ‘corruption and oligarchy' by Péter Magyar. But is Hungary's real problem that its oligarchs are not independent tycoons at all, but extensions of the state itself?In this Visegrad Insight videocast, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with two insiders of Hungary's economic and political transformation: former central banker and regional investment banker András Simor and former economy minister and governor of the National Bank of Hungary Péter Ákos Bod.This podcast joins the series of conversations within the pilot Polish-Hungarian bilateral framework at the Europe Future Format by the Res Publica Foundation.Learn more about this format: https://europefuture.forum/europe-future-forum-polish-hungarian-perspectives/.Explore Europe Future Forum: https://europefuture.forumWatch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r-l242SBIbMListen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

In this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, Tomasz Kasprowicz speaks with Andreas Treichl, chair of Erste Foundation and former chief executive of Erste Group Bank, about the future of banking, capital markets and pensions in Central and Eastern Europe.Learn more about Europe Future Forum: https://europefuture.forum/⁠

Finland's Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, Jarno Syrjälä, joins Tomasz Kasprowicz, Vice-President of the Res Publica Foundation, to unpack how smaller European states navigate a harsher economic security environment. We discuss European Union trade unity under stress, the US–China rivalry, China's rare earth leverage and why dialogue and flexible processes still matter. We also cover Finland's shift after joining NATO in 2023, economic security, resilient supply chains and the balance between openness and strategic foresight. Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ https://youtu.be/4ts8BzOjNuY

Economic security alert. Wolfgang Münchau, co-founder and director of Eurointelligence, and author of ‘Kaput: The End of the German Miracle' book, pulls no punches in an exclusive interview with Wojciech Przybylski – Germany's mercantilist miracle is over, China now out-competes on quality, and Europe's economic security hangs by fragile threads. From rare-earth chokeholds to failing diversification, Münchau and Przybylski expose why grand EU programmes mask a deeper inability to secure critical supply chains and strategic autonomy – Brussels and Berlin still opt for slogans over strategy. So what Central Europe must do to escape the fallout? --Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

What do 94% of Poles dream about in 2025 – and how are their fears shaping the future?Next to the weekly democratic and economic security outlook, in this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, recorded live at the Freedom Games in Łódź, Maia Mazurkiewicz – CEO of the PZU Foundation, part of the biggest Polish insurance company – unveils the first-ever comprehensive report on the dreams of Poles: “Czy Polacy potrafią marzyć?” (Do Poles Know How to Dream?), commissioned by her organisation.Despite war on the border, economic pressure, and global uncertainty, 93.5% of Poles still dream – and this groundbreaking study reveals what they dream about, why, and how dreams build resilience in turbulent times.Key Insights from the Report:Top dreams: Health, close relationships, financial stability, and a 'simple good life'Generational divide: Gen Z (18–24): Dream of love, connection, and meaningful relationships – scarred by pandemic loneliness and AI-driven isolationSeniors: Seek peace, travel, and a comfortable homeBiggest fears: Loneliness, dehumanisation from AI, political crisis – but not war as the dominant fearIs it surprising? Poles dream realistically – 87.5% focus on achievable goals, not Nobel Prizes or grandeurCommunity is king: Across all ages and regions, Poles crave belonging – a counterforce to polarisationWhy This Matters for Central Europe & Beyond:While fear-based narratives dominate strategic communication (especially from Russia), this report flips the script. Dreams = hope = motivation = resilience. As Maia says:'We need positive emotions. Dreams give people a sense of life.'Host Wojciech Przybylski explores:Can political leaders win with hope-based strategies instead of fear?Is Poland's economic success creating a tension between money and free time so unique?What do we dream when thinking about AI? English Version Coming November 2025 – Download the Polish report now:

On 16 October 2025, Budapest was announced as a centrepiece of global diplomacy when the US President declared that his Russian counterpart had called to discuss peace in Ukraine, apparently triggered by Tomahawk diplomacy. But what are the real motivations behind Vladimir Putin's and Donald Trump's visits to Hungary, a key EU and NATO member state, just months before Hungary's elections? And what are Viktor Orbán's hopes and fears regarding this plan? Can the war end their way – without participation of Zelenskyy or other European leaders?Wojciech Przybylski hosts Botond Feledy from Red Snow Consultancy who unpacks a multi-level strategic interests of the three actors and offer hypotheses on why Budapest is a focal point for their activities at this time. Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

A quick overview of weekly developments and a special guest speaker of the Europe Future Forum. Tune in for an insightful conversation with Piotr Matczuk, CEO of the Polish Development Fund (PFR), as he discusses PFR's pivotal role as Poland's 'investment traffic manager.' Learn how PFR facilitates capital flows, supports Polish businesses in their international expansion, and attracts global investors to strategic projects in Poland and beyond, including initiatives like Team Poland for Ukraine. Matczuk shares how PFR drives economic resilience, fosters green transitions, and bolsters Poland's position among the world's top economies, all while coordinating investment opportunities with a focus on commercial viability and developmental impact. Watch on YouTube:⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

Readings:A New Gaza Rage Machine – with Polish Origins by Iván László Nagy https://visegradinsight.eu/a-new-gaza-rage-machine-with-polish-origins/This Polish-German Border Community Still Believes In The European Miracle – LONG READ by Staś Kaleta: https://visegradinsight.eu/this-polish-german-border-community-still-believes-in-the-european-miracle-long-read/Explore the global impact of Polish far-right media in this episode of the Visegrad Insight podcast. Host Wojciech Przybylski, with investigative journalists Ivan L. Nagy and Staś Kaleta, uncovers the origins and influence of Visegrad 24, a controversial “news aggregator” turned digital powerhouse, now expanding with Middle East 24. Learn how these platforms fuel nationalist narratives, from Central Europe to the U.S., and shape perceptions in Polish-German border communities. Recorded on 5 October 2025, post-Czech elections, this episode delves into Andrej Babiš' political comeback, far-right propaganda, and the transatlantic spread of divisive media. Perfect for those interested in populism, disinformation, and global politics. Subscribe for more insights on Central and Eastern European trends!Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10mListen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

In this episode, Raluca Csernatoni shares her vision for the future of defence – what power and security mean in a world of new technologies and big tech. We also give our overview of regional events, including an informal defence summit in Copenhagen, and elections in Moldova and Czechia.Raluca is a Research Fellow working on the nexus between European defence and emerging disruptive technologies like AI at Carnegie Europe. Staś Kaleta conducted the interview on the sidelines of our Europe Future Forum: https://europefuture.forum/.

In this episode, listen to what Constanze Stelzenmüller has to say about the biggest threats to European security. Constanze is the Director of the Center on the US and Europe and Fritz Stern Chair at The Brookings Institution. She was also a speaker at our Europe Future Forum 2025: https://europefuture.forum/We also have our regular overview of regional dynamics, including upcoming elections, further Russian airspace incursions – and the Polish President and Deputy PM travelling to New York together, but on separate planes.

This week, Staś Kaleta is joined by Noah Barkin to discuss the EU's strategy for China – after Donald Trump's NATO ultimatum demanding China tariffs, as well as Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Poland. Barkin is a Senior Advisor in Rhodium Group's China practice and a Visiting Senior Fellow in the Indo-Pacific Programme at the German Marshall Fund.This podcast was recorded in Warsaw on the sidelines of our Europe Future Forum, a platform to explore the Polish perspective on key European issues. It invites the participation of 200+ policymakers, directors of public policies and other influential stakeholders: https://europefuture.forum/

This week, as media reports suggest that the US is considering withdrawing its troops from the Baltics, we break down what presence the US really has on NATO's eastern flank. We look at the large-scale military exercises being led by other NATO allies in the Baltics – in symbolic opposition to the joint Zapad drills of Russia and Belarus – as well as the fiscal difficulties European countries now face trying to fund greater defence spending. We discuss this in the context of Russian sanctions, as Europe prepares a 19th package of measures, but many countries maintain business ties with Moscow via third-party countries.

This week, we look ahead to Karol Nawrocki's visit to the White House, the first foreign trip of his presidency, which comes amid growing tensions between the presidential office and the government at home. We also comment on Robert Fico's and Aleksandar Vučić's expected attendance in Beijing for China's military parade – siding with a revisionist alliance that forces countries like Poland to push record defence budgets.

In this episode, we break down a rollercoaster week for Ukraine – from the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska, to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington yesterday. We also try to explain why no leaders from central or eastern Europe were included in the group of heads of state to accompany Zelenskyy.

In this week's episode, we look at how Central European leaders are positioning themselves ahead of a pivotal meeting in Alaska – between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, but no Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We also break down Karol Nawrocki's first week as President of Poland, and what to expect from his visit to Washington on 3 September.

This week, as Karol Nawrocki completes his official inauguration, we look at what to expect from the next Polish President. We break down clues about what his foreign and domestic policy might look like, and how he changes the game for Donald Tusk – and Jarosław Kaczyński. We're joined by Bartosz Wielinski, Deputy Editor in Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, and Krzysztof Izdebski, member of the Board and Director for Advocacy and Development at the Stefan Batory Foundation. 

In this episode, we look at how Central Europe reacted to the new EU budget proposal, breaking down media and government responses – from Warsaw's celebrations to Budapest's anger. We hear from Magda Jakubowska, Director of Operations at the Res Publica Foundation, and several Visegrad Insight fellows from across the region, including Iván L. Nagy, Marco Németh, Pavel Havlíček and Radu Albu-Comǎnescu.

In this episode, we're joined by Marcin Jerzewski 葉皓勤, Head of the Taiwan Office of the European Values Center for Security Policy, as we look ahead to the EU-China summit. We break down relations between different Central European nations and China, and why much can be learned from Taiwan – as Beijing and Moscow continue to consolidate their axis of malign influence, and a delegation from the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield travels to Taipei.

This week, we react to Donald Trump's major announcements during a White House meeting with Mark Rutte – including the threat of tariffs on Russia if no deal is struck within 50 days, and a promise of big money equipment for Ukraine. We also break down the hopes of Central and Eastern Europe for the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework.

In this special episode of the Visegrad Insight podcast, Staś Kaleta talks with Szabolcs Panyi and Luca Soltesz, who reflect on the record-breaking Budapest Pride March and its wider political implications for Hungary ahead of the 2026 elections. They explore how the spontaneous mobilisation signals growing anti-government sentiment, the strategic silence of opposition leader Péter Magyar and the troubling rise in surveillance and far-right obstruction backed by Orbán's weakening regime.Link to Luca Soltesz's article: https://visegradinsight.eu/the-pride-march-that-signalled-a-hungary-beyond-orban-commentary/

This week, Poland's EU Council Presidency ends, and Hungary's Visegrád Group Presidency begins – under a secret programme that Budapest has not shared with its neighbours. We look at how Viktor Orbán may try to spoil the European direction Donald Tusk has tried to shape over the last six months. We also look back on the NATO summit in the Hague, and the largest ever Pride parade in Budapest.

In this episode, we break down regional responses to escalating tensions in the Middle East, after the US bombed three of Iran's nuclear sites. We also point out developing stories across the Visegrád Group – from Budapest's Pride march to vote-counting irregularities in Poland.

In this episode, we look at growing warnings about the threat Russia poses – from Ukraine and Southeast Europe to the Baltics and Finland. We also breakdown regional reactions to ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran.

In this episode, we focus on tense political atmospheres in Poland and Czechia. In Warsaw, Donald Tusk has called for a vote of confidence after an election loss. In Prague, the opposition is looking to punish Petr Fiala's government, after it was revealed that a justice minister received a secret €40 million donation from a convicted online drug dealer. We also breakdown Karol Nawrocki's first interview in foreign media and the latest from Hungary.

In this episode, we predict what Karol Nawrocki's presidential electoral victory will mean for Poland, and beyond. You'll hear comments from:Spasimir Domaradzki, a Researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies of the University of WarsawKrzysztof Izdebski, a Member of the Board and Director for Advocacy and Development at the Stefan Batory FoundationEdit Zgut-Przybylska, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology in the Polish academy of sciences, and a research fellow at the CEU democracy institute in BudapestPavel Havlicek, fellow at the Association for International Affairs Research Centre in PragueMarzenna Guz-Vetter, Former Head and Spokesperson of the European Commission Representation in PolandRuslanas Irzikevicius, Director at the Lithuanian Media Support FundRadu Albu-Comanescu, Lecturer in European Integration at the University of Cluj-Napoca

In this episode, we discuss Donald Trump's Ukraine strategy, whether he has finally realised Vladimir Putin is ‘crazy', and what that realisation would mean for EU security. We then breakdown debates and rallies in the final week before Poland's crucial presidential election run-off.

In this episode, our Visegrad Insight Enlargement Fellow Jan Farfal interviews Saskia Hollander, Senior Research Fellow at The Clingendael Institute. As the EU considers the gradual integration model for enlargement, we explore its potential benefits and risks. The discussion is based on the following Clingendael report: https://www.clingendael.org/publication/gradual-integration-candidate-countries-european-union.  

In this episode, we look at a weekend of key elections in Romania and Poland. To break down Nicușor Dan's remarkable victory, we hear from special guests Alex Olaru (Editor-in-Chief at PressOne), Alina Bârgǎoanu (Visegrad Insight Fellow, Member of the advisory board of the European Digital Media Observatory), and Radu Albu-Comǎnescu (Visegrad Insight Fellow, Lecturer at the University of Cluj-Napoca).

In this episode, we explore a redefined global security context with Róbert Ondrejcsák, Executive Director of the European Leadership Network, former Slovak Ambassador to the UK and former Deputy Defence Minister of Slovakia. We break down Xi Jinping's call for Russia and China to become ‘friends of steel' – in opposition to leaders in Kyiv and Washington – and the place of different V4 countries in this context.

In this episode, we look back on Donald Tusk's meetings with Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, Xi Jinping's call for Russia and China to become ‘friends of steel', an important meeting of leaders in Kyiv, and the prospects of George Simion becoming Romanian President on 18 May.

In this episode, we look at Victory Day in Russia and who may or may not be attending. We also breakdown events happening at the same time in Europe, like a new treaty between Poland and France, as well as first round election results in Romania and the latest opinion polls in Poland – two weeks before the 18 May vote.

In this episode, we look back on the last 10 years of the Three Seas Initiative, as the forum celebrates its 10th anniversary in Warsaw – and in the same week that Donald Trump Jr. tours around the region… We also break down the state of play ahead of crucial elections in Romania and Poland.

In this episode, we explore relations between Poland and Germany with special guest, Bartosz Wieliński – Visegrad Insight Fellow and Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Gazeta Wyborcza. We break down how the politics of memory around Germany and migration has been weaponised, in the past and now ahead of Polish elections next month. We also look at what to expect from the new Friedrich Merz-led coalition, and whether it will live up to Polish expectations.

In this episode, we break down Polish expectations for the new German government. We also look at presidential election debates in Poland – including an unknown, pro-Russian unknown actor – and growing concerns about corruption in Hungary and Slovakia.

In this episode, we dive into the reactions and the reasoning behind Donald Trump's tariffs. We also give an exclusive teaser of our Quarterly Brief, which analyses how the new US administration has reshaped European defence: inspiring investment in hard security, but also amplifying illiberal actors and their threats to democratic security.Keep an eye out. Our brief, written with input from fellows around Central and Eastern Europe (some of whom you'll hear from in this episode), will be out soon!

In this episode, we break down discourse on China in Central and Eastern European social media. We then dive into the increasingly important world of chips and semiconductors. We're joined by Matej Šimalčík, Executive Director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS). You can find the latest CEIAS report, ‘Contested narratives about China on V4 social media', at the link: https://ceias.eu/situation-report-contested-narratives-about-china-on-v4-social-media/

In this episode, we react to news that the European Commission is making a fresh push to free European savings – in the context of the ReArm Europe plan – as well as growing talk around military training. We also look at the deeper, economic issues Viktor Orbán is trying to cover up in Hungary.

In this episode, we discuss the changing transatlantic relationship, amid US tariff threats and the EU's white paper on defence. We then cover the biggest protests in Serbia since the regime of Slobodan Milošević.

In this episode, we look at how democratic countries need to act when tackling illiberalism. We breakdown the Romanian government's decision to ban far-right frontrunner Cǎlin Georgescu from the May elections, and then respond to a recent report titled ‘When Democrats Govern Undemocratically: The Case of Poland' – with input from Matthew Boyse, the report's author and a former senior foreign service officer under Donald Trump 1.0.

In this episode, we break down regional reactions to the now infamous meeting between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Oval Office. We also look at why it was a mistake not to invite the Baltics to the Ukraine Summit in London.

In this episode, we break down election results in Germany, growing Trump administration pressure on Ukraine, as well as the EU's upcoming Clean Industrial Deal. Wojciech Przybylski joins from the Yalta Conference in Kyiv, and we hear from special guest David Criekemans – a distinguished Professor of International Relations and Specialist in Geopolitics from Antwerp University.

In this episode, we digest the outcomes of a chaotic Munich Security Conference, including reactions from around Central and Eastern Europe - and expectations for EU defence after an emergency summit in Paris.