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Regular bite-sized shorts focusing on different aspects of the war in Ukraine from a geopolitical perspective.

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The French presidential election campaign has been dominated by foreign policy issues as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and NATO membership have been top of the agenda.

France: A Foreign Affairs Election?

Why did the Russian army retreat to southern and eastern Ukraine? What did we know, before this war in Ukraine started, of Russian military power? Was it overrated? How does it measure up to American and Chinese military powers?

Russia's Military Might

What did we know, before this war in Ukraine started, of Russian military power?

Mapping the World

Most of Mariupol's infrastructure has been destroyed. The city is a strategic port on the Black Sea, as it's not far from Crimea (annexed by Russia) and located in the Donbas, which is already under the influence of the Kremlin. As the invasion falters, the Russian army has fallen back to the separatist region, hoping that there at least, they can secure a victory.

The Kremlin Saves Face in the Donbas

The Russian army has fallen back to the Donbas, hoping that there at least, they can secure a victory

Sixth week of war in Ukraine: as the Russian army retreats, they leave behind the corpses of executed civilians and traumatised survivors. The Ukrainian authorities say the Russians committed war crimes and human rights abuses against the locals.

Massacres and Refugees: 40 Days of War

We take stock and look back on what happened in the first 40 days of war

The European Union and China held a summit at the beginning of April to address Beijing's close relationship to Moscow in the wake of the Ukraine war. Also on the agenda was the question of the Sino-European Investment Agreement (suspended in May 2021), and Chinese anger over Lithuania's decision to gave Taipei the right to a representative office in Vilnius, under the name of Taiwan.

EU-China Summit: The Psychology of War

The EU and China held a summit to address Beijing's close relationship to Moscow in the wake of the Ukraine war

For Moscow, despite Kyiv's concessions on its "neutrality", the negotiations in Istanbul on Tuesday 29 March did not give rise to anything "very promising". Recently, researcher Sophie Marineau said: "Replace Luhansk and Donetsk with Ossetia and Abkhazia, Kyiv with Tbilisi, and you get the Ukrainian version of what happened in Georgia in 2008."

A Georgian Solution for Kyiv?

Despite Kyiv's concessions on its "neutrality", Moscow has yet to agree to a ceasefire

Many Russians will land in Dubai this week where no sanctions apply against the country’s oligarchs. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have not fully supported the West's stance in the war on Ukraine. A focus on how and why that is.

The Gulf States' Strategy

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have not fully supported the West's stance in the war on Ukraine. A focus on how and why that is.

While Poland is pulling out all the stops to help its Ukrainian neighbours, Hungary has taken a different tack. Viktor Orban has made it clear that there is no question of giving up Russian gas and sending military aid to the Ukrainians. Faced with the war, Poland and Hungary have diverging viewpoints, when not so long ago, they stood united.

Poland and Hungary, Next Door to War

While Poland is pulling out all the stops to help its Ukrainian neighbours, Hungary has taken a different tack

"Our submarine cables may be the target of nations tempted to damage them," declared the Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly a few days before the outbreak of war in Ukraine. A Russian ship was even been spotted several times off Ireland. Does Russia have the means to deprive Westerners of the Internet?

Underwater Cables: A New Frontline?

Does Russia have the means to deprive Westerners of the Internet?

Europe is energy dependent on Russia, paying 750 million euros every day for Russian oil and gas which indirectly finances the war in Ukraine. A spotlight on two alternative producer countries: Algeria and Venezuela.

Alternatives to Russian Oil and Gas

23 March 2022: Joe Biden arrived in Brussels for a diplomatic marathon: G7 meeting, NATO summit, European Council, then a trip to Warsaw. To what extent is the United States of 2022 back on the international stage after Trump’s ‘America First’ withdrawal?

Ukraine War: The Return of the USA?

To what extent is the United States of 2022 back on the international stage after Trump’s ‘America First’ withdrawal?

In Mariupol, the Chechen battalions are known for their bloody methods. But other Chechens are also fighting alongside the Ukrainians.

Mariupol, the Chechens and Putin

On March 18, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping had a long-awaited talk about Ukraine. On the one hand, Beijing said it was "opposed to the war", calling for "dialogue with Russia"; on the other, Washington tried to dissuade China from helping Russia circumvent its economic isolation. In short, a diplomatic standoff, with the issue of Taiwan looming large in the background.

Showdown Between Washington and Beijing

The US wants to make sure that Beijing doesn't help the Kremlin to circumvent painful economic sanctions

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden’s old fear of its neighbour across the Baltic has been revived.

Sweden: Fear of Russia

Russia is a mighty military power but is has profound internal problems. How will the Russian people and their government in the Kremlin react to the pain of Western sanctions?

Russia: Will Sanctions Work?

If the Russians take the Ukrainian port of Odessa, it is feared that they could invade the fragile state of Moldova as well.

Moldova: Next Russian Target?

On 13 March, the Yavoriv military base was hit by Russian missiles, killing 35 people and injuring 134. Although located in eastern Ukraine, not a NATO member, the base has been used for joint operations with the North Atlantic Alliance. Let’s take a moment to get an overview of NATO’s presence in eastern Europe.

Nato: What Presence in Eastern Europe?

A focus on the presence of the North Atlantic Alliance in eastern Europe.

If there is one friend that Moscow can rely on its Bashar Hafez al-Assad’s Syria. It is thought that Syrian recruits are fighting in Ukraine in return for Putin coming to the Syrian regime’s aid back in 2015.

Ukraine: Putin's Syrian Ally

Vladimir Putin is accelerating his country's disconnection from global information flows: The Russian government is now blocking Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well as threatening 15 years in prison for those who spread "false information". This brings Russia closer in line with countries like China and North Korea.

Russia Disconnects from the Global Internet

The Russian government is now blocking Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well as threatening 15 years in prison for those who spread "false information".

Currently threatened by Russian invasion, Odesa is Ukraine’s largest port and vital to the nation’s economy. A focus on the strategic importance of access to the Black Sea.

Mapping the World Essentials

All videos

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

France: A Foreign Affairs Election?

Mapping the World

Mapping the World

Russia's Military Might

Mapping the World

Mapping the World

The Kremlin Saves Face in the Donbas

Mapping the World

Mapping the World

Massacres and Refugees: 40 Days of War

Mapping the World

Mapping the World

EU-China Summit: The Psychology of War

Mapping the World

Mapping the World

A Georgian Solution for Kyiv?

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

The Gulf States' Strategy

Mapping the World

Mapping the World

Poland and Hungary, Next Door to War

Mapping the World

Mapping the World

Underwater Cables: A New Frontline?

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Alternatives to Russian Oil and Gas

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Ukraine War: The Return of the USA?

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Mariupol, the Chechens and Putin

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Showdown Between Washington and Beijing

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Sweden: Fear of Russia

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Russia: Will Sanctions Work?

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Moldova: Next Russian Target?

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Nato: What Presence in Eastern Europe?

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Ukraine: Putin's Syrian Ally

Mapping the World Essentials

Mapping the World Essentials

Russia Disconnects from the Global Internet

Mapping the World

Mapping the World

Odesa and the Black Sea