Balázs Jarábik

Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, ongoing for six months and counting, has local, regional, and global dimensions, with implications for humanitarian, economic, political, and geopolitical spheres. The genesis of the war, effectively growing out of the conflict surrounding the 2014 Euromaidan Revolution, and the Russian reaction it precipitated in terms of the annexation of Crimea and directly engaging in conflict in the Donbas, is rather blurred. The Russian aggression launched on February 24 provides a powerful argument for those whose position is that a larger conflict with Russia is inevitable for the West. The proposed research investigates the genesis of the conflict, focus on the immediate implications of the war on Ukraine and the larger impact on the neighboring states, namely, Ukraine’s direct neighbors, Belarus and Moldova. Balázs Jarábik combines his long-term practical experience in Eastern Europe with rigorous analysis of key factors. The result will be a paper whose aim is to provide a contextual analysis giving policymakers key insight into important local and regional trends, enabling them to better calibrate policies.