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Eastern Europe & Russia

The war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed the West's relationship with Russia. At the same time, the war has brought renewed focus on the historical and political significance of Eastern Europe. Among other topics DIIS researches Russia's hybrid warfare as well as the importance of energy security for the West and Western Europe's relationship with Eastern Europe.

More on this subject:
Russia
Ukraine
Moldova
Georgia
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus

Research and activites

  • Cover DIIS Report 2024 02.jpg
    DIIS Report
    2024

    Why Russia seeks to expand its influence in Africa – and what it means for the West

    In parallel to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has ramped up its activities in Africa
  • Cover for brief on aid in Ukraine #2
    Photo/illustration by Abaca Ritzau Scanpix
    DIIS Policy Brief
    2024

    Humanitarian principles are under fire in Ukraine

    Ukraine presents a unique challenge for many international humanitarian organisations. Operating in a context of heightened geo-political and donor interest, and in close proximity to military actors, amateur volunteer groups and Ukrainian civil society are testing the core principles of neutrality and impartiality that once underpinned humanitarian work.
  • Cover for brief on aid in Ukraine
    Photo/illustration by Olga Maltseva AFP Ritzau Scanpix
    DIIS Policy Brief
    2024

    The war in Ukraine poses unprecedented threats to aid workers

    An interstate war in Europe presents new security challenges for humanitarians. Along the 960km Ukraine-Russia frontline, humanitarian infrastructure has been hit by shelling, missiles and drone strikes, and aid delivery disrupted by electronic warfare. Supporting specialised training and removing outdated bureaucratic burdens are some of the ways in which donors and policymakers can help humanitarian organisations adapt to this new context.
  • greenland-in-arctic-security-cover.png
    Book
    2024

    Greenland in Arctic Security - independence, climate change and nuclear missiles

    Greenland in Arctic Security delivers a comprehensive overview of how security dynamics unfold in and in relation to Greenland. From great power interests in geostrategic infrastructure to domestic debates centered on promoting and protecting Greenland identity when engaging with the outside world.
  • Everyday Humanitarianism in Tanzania
    Photo/illustration by Everyday Humanitarianism in Tanzania (EHTZ)
    Livestreaming

    Humanitarianism in crisis?

    DIIS Auditorium
    This seminar brings together leading scholars on humanitarianism to discuss the state of humanitarianism today, its historical entanglements and its future
  • Big Loop of Saar River near Orscholz, Mettlach, Saarland, Germany, Europe
    Photo/illustration by Hans-Peter Merten / robertharding / Alamy Stock Photo

    Power, practice and theory in international relations

    DIIS Auditorium
    Power, theory and practice are each inescapable for understanding international relations. In the case of all three, Stefano Guzzini's contributions have been core to advancing scholarship
  • journal of arctic and climate security studies
    Photo/illustration by Capt. Mikel Arcovitch/The National Guard/Flickr copyright license
    Journal Article
    2023

    Reclaiming Arcticness

    The writing of an Arctic chapter in the US autobiography
  • cover.png
    Photo/illustration by NASA Photo Alamy Stock Photo
    DIIS Policy Brief
    2023

    Arctic climate science is caught in the middle of geopolitical tension

    The frozen relations between Russia and the West have serious ramifications in the Arctic, politically and scientifically. It is time to think of ways to exempt climate science and data from this geopolitical split.
  • Post-Sovjet Affairs
    Photo/illustration by Информационное агентство БелТА via Wikipedia copyright license
    Journal Article
    2023

    How the Wagner Group became legal in Russian discourse

    Before the war in Ukraine the Wagner Group was considered illegal according to Russian law. In the public Russian discourse however, they are increasingly considered to be a legal private company.
  • European Political Community, European Union
    Photo/illustration by European Union
    Webinar

    The European Political Community: putting politics first?

    Online via Zoom
    Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has upended the political constellation of the wider Europe. In the wake of the invasion, The European Political Community (EPC) was launched in October 2022 by 44 European countries, including all 27 EU member states. The EPC's establishment raises new questions about the European security architecture and institutional alignment in light of Russia’s invasion. At this webinar we take a closer look at what this new body can and cannot achieve.
  • Putin and Xi meeting Moscow
    Photo/illustration by Sergei Karpukhin/TASS/Ritzau Scanpix
    Livestreaming

    Seminar: Status and equality make rising powers more cooperative

    Researcher explains why great powers like China and India challenge international order.
  • Biden's Summit for Democracy
    Photo/illustration by UPI / Alamy Stock Photo
    Livestreaming

    Biden's Summit for Democracy in the shadow of Ukraine

    DIIS Auditorium
    In this seminar, leading international experts take stock of Joe Biden’s Summit for Democracy initiative in the shadow of the war in Ukraine, which has exacerbated the tensions between democracy and authoritarianism
  • ukraine-women
    Photo/illustration by PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY Official website via Wiki Commons copyright license
    DIIS Comment
    2023

    Everyday agency of Ukrainian migrant women

    Ukrainian women have been in the spotlight of international media for months. Pictures of mothers crossing the border, representing the victims of the war in the news, has aroused sorrow and pity in audiences. But women that flee or migrate are much more than powerless victims.
  • Albania in the UN Security Council
    Photo/illustration by UN Photo/Evan Schneider
    Livestreaming

    International order under pressure: Small states in the UN Security Council

    Denmark has launched its campaign for the UNSC in 2025-2026 but what can Denmark hope to achieve in the UN Security Council if elected?
  • A British soldier training a Mali soldier
    Article
    2023

    EU vs Wagner paramilitaries: a view from the ground in Mali

    After 10 years of failed counter-terrorism efforts, Europe is losing influence to Russia in Mali. Europe has overlooked key voices in the West African Sahel region, and the current situation risks global security policy consequences.
  • Drone and soldier - Baltic Sea
    Photo/illustration by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix
    Livestreaming

    Baltic Sea Region security challenges after Ukraine

    Highly relevant 1,5-day conference with over 20 experts on security challenges in the Baltic Sea Region
  • UN Security Council meeting Zelensky
    Photo/illustration by UN Photo/Laura Jarriel
    Livestreaming

    The UN Security Council: Maintaining international peace after the invasion

    A year into Russia's war in Ukraine and with the UN Security Council caught up in great power rivalry, this event explores strategies available to non-permanent elected members of the UN Security Council to exert influence
  • Cover Palgrave Handbook of Diplomatic Reform and Innovation
    Book Chapter
    2023

    Geoeconomic diplomacy: Reforming the instrumentalization of economic interdependencies and power

    Through case studies pertaining to the sanctions against Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine this book chapter analyzes deficiencies of EU's geoeconomic diplomacy and proposes a number of reform initiatives to be considered at the domestic, European, and international levels.
  • Blinken og Lavrov corona greeting
    Photo/illustration by Pool/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
    Webinar

    The Arctic Council in the shadow of the War in Ukraine

    Online via Zoom
    This webinar brings together officials and experts from Denmark, Greenland, Norway and Finland to discuss the current and future state of the Arctic Council following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
  • Cover for brief on law-making and resilience
    DIIS Policy Brief
    2023

    The promises and perils of law-making as the way to strengthen societal resilience

    Societal resilience is seen as a key answer to the deteriorating security situation, especially in the Baltic Sea region. States often employ new laws in an attempt to strengthen resilience, but is legislation the best way to build stronger societies?
  • Cover of the Progressive Yearbook 2023
    Book Chapter
    2023

    Reflections on the energy crisis in Europe

    Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shook continental politics and led to an unprecedented energy crisis in Europe. With Russia no longer considered either a reliable or desirable energy supplier, the EU member states had to rethink their energy policy priorities and seek alternatives as a matter of utmost urgency.
  • flag-indo-pacific
    DIIS Comment
    2023

    Ukraine’s ripple effect on Russia’s Indo-Pacific horizon

    Russia’s war brings changes to energy security, food security, and geopolitics across Asia
  • international-affairs-cover
    Journal Article
    2023

    Liberal intervention's renewed crisis

    responding to Russia’s growing influence in Africa
  • kinabladet-cover.
    Journal Article
    2022

    The economic meaning of the Russia-Ukraine war for China

    Russia and Ukraine both supply products of strategic importance to China, but Russia is most important to China. Especially geostrategically and in the field of energy.
  • Cover for DIIS report The Sanctioning of Warfare
    DIIS Report
    2022

    The sanctioning of warfare

    Early lessons from the EU’s geoeconomic response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine