![The US-China competition over Vietnam](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/5182039477_35527d1703_h.jpg)
The US-China competition over Vietnam
The ongoing competition between the US and China over the sphere of influence in Vietnam has been intensifying. Vietnam can be considered as one of the most important partners for the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. At the same time, China seems to be an unavoidable partner for Vietnam. It all can be easily observed through diplomatic efforts that both countries are putting to place themselves at the pole position.
![Polish-Pakistani Relations (Joint Event The Youth Diplomacy Forum from Pakistan)](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Polish-Pakistani-Relations.png)
Polish-Pakistani Relations (Joint Event The Youth Diplomacy Forum from Pakistan)
A joint international conference, organized by the Youth Diplomacy Forum and the Warsaw Institute, was held on February 21, 2022. The main topic of the event was Polish-Pakistani relations. The participants of the meeting included H.E. Mr. Malik Muhammad Farooq, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Poland, H.E. Mr. Piotr Andrzej Opaliński, former Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Pakistan, Dr. Syed Sibtain Shah from the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, and moderator Ms. Liliana Śmiech, Director of Public Relations at the Warsaw Institute.
![Equinor Quits Russia, Joining Other Oil Giants](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/gazprom-14.jpg)
Equinor Quits Russia, Joining Other Oil Giants
Norway’s state-owned energy company Equinor announced on February 28 it would “start the process of exiting its Russian joint ventures.” Equinor has followed BP and Shell in announcing plans to withdraw from Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
![As Fight Moves Into Its Fifth Day, Russia Makes Surprisingly Slow Invasion Progress](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/zniszczony-czołg.jpg)
As Fight Moves Into Its Fifth Day, Russia Makes Surprisingly Slow Invasion Progress
During the first days of the invasion, Russian forces failed to capture any major cities. In fact, they are bypassing them while seeking to capture Ukraine’s two biggest cities, albeit each for a different reason. Russia is seeking to besiege the eastern city of Kharkiv because its forces cannot leave it behind while advancing on central Ukraine. The invading country is also trying to seize Kyiv to damage the morale of the Ukrainian army. According to the Pentagon, Russia has committed 75 percent of its amassed forces inside Ukraine. It is yet likely that Belarus will join Russian war efforts.
![Gazprom, Rosneft Lose Western Investors](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/grazporm1234.jpg)
Gazprom, Rosneft Lose Western Investors
Oil giants Shell and BP are quitting joint projects with the biggest Russian energy companies, marking the most significant move yet by a Western company in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Gazprom and Rosneft are losing billions after the prices of their shares collapsed and the Russian financial market plummeted amid Western sanctions.
![Ukraine-Russia War: Russian Vulnerabilities On Northeastern Front](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/31894599588_71f61dba29_o.jpg)
Ukraine-Russia War: Russian Vulnerabilities On Northeastern Front
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is not moving as fast as Putin had assumed. It is not known whether the army was not sufficiently prepared or whether Russian top military brass did not want to tell the president they were unfit for the invasion. Perhaps the Russian offensive potential is not as impressive as many would think, also in Moscow. Invading a vast European country, inhabited by millions and priding itself with a high-morale army, is not the same as ruthless raids on civilians in Syria.
![Gazprom Says Russian Gas Exports Via Ukraine Continue Normally](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/gazprom-12.jpg)
Gazprom Says Russian Gas Exports Via Ukraine Continue Normally
Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom said on February 27 that Russian gas exports via Ukraine to Europe continued normally, in line with requests from customers. Ukraine’s gas pipeline operator also said the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine ran safely. The war, which broke out on February 24, has not affected Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.
![Ukraine-Russia War: Russian Vulnerabilities On Southern Front](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/31894601118_261404f122_o.jpg)
Ukraine-Russia War: Russian Vulnerabilities On Southern Front
In the case of an invasion of Ukraine, Russia will be conducting its largest combined arms operation since the Battle of Berlin in 1945. As the first days of the war showed, the Russian army overestimated its capabilities while underestimating those of the enemy. This is not new for Russia. It was similar during the first war in Chechnya and also somewhat in Georgia.
![Ukraine-Russia War: Russian Vulnerabilities On Southeastern Front](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/33020953331_19f0d9354a_o.jpg)
Ukraine-Russia War: Russian Vulnerabilities On Southeastern Front
The Russia-Ukraine war has in fact continued in Donbas since 2014. After the Kremlin officially recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in war-torn eastern Ukraine, it could have seemed that these two will turn into the military theater. Yet Putin decided otherwise. The military theatre in Donbas is fundamental for three reasons. Firstly, this is where Ukrainian forces have been for years now and are best prepared for defensive. Secondly, Russian forces could advance northwest, heading from Donbas towards Kharkiv to back soldiers that invade the city from the east. Thirdly, an assault group is advancing on Mariupol along the coast of the Sea of Azov to join troops moving forward from the Crimean peninsula.
![Putin’s Failed Blitzkrieg: Russian Forces Are Advancing On Kyiv](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/39647201624_ef0def26bd_k.jpg)
Putin’s Failed Blitzkrieg: Russian Forces Are Advancing On Kyiv
Moscow did not achieve its goals on the first day of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian forces successfully slowed the Russian attack on land while the Russian air and rocket forces did not cripple Ukrainian command.
![The Warsaw Institute stands united with Ukraine](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Flag_of_Ukraine.jpg)
The Warsaw Institute stands united with Ukraine
The Warsaw Institute stands in solidarity with Ukraine, which was attacked by the regime of Vladimir Putin. As an organization, we condemn any signs of escalation of the conflict on the part of the Russian Federation and support the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state.
![Putin Goes All In: Invasion Of Ukraine](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Vladimir_Putin_19-01-2021.jpg)
Putin Goes All In: Invasion Of Ukraine
The Russian president could have stopped at recognizing the so-called people’s republics in occupied Donbas, saving his face and leaving the current crisis behind him. However, all indications are that the war with Ukraine was already planned last fall. Russia’s absurd demands to NATO and the US were only an excuse to strike Ukraine.
![The Role and Influence of The People’s Republic of China on Visegrad Group Countries – SPECIAL REPORT](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/17999608346_3d5f83931f_k.jpg)
The Role and Influence of The People’s Republic of China on Visegrad Group Countries – SPECIAL REPORT
A special report prepared by the Warsaw Institute is available in the form of a multimedia file on the Institute’s website. It summarizes all the articles related to the subject of the role and influence of the People’s Republic of China on Visegrad Group countries and places this issue in a broader geopolitical context.
![Geopolitical Notebook: Honduras a Central American “Narco State”?](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/50205562718_8c78967e3e_k.jpg)
Geopolitical Notebook: Honduras a Central American “Narco State”?
The Polish foreign correspondent Richard Kapuscinski wrote The Soccer War chronicling how a soccer match sparked an armed border conflict. Today, the country is in the news for a different reason associated with drug trafficking at the highest levels. The country’s erstwhile president Juan Orlando Hernández was last week arrested on drug trafficking and faces prosecution and extradition to the US. On what charges? The former disgraced president was involved in “… a violent drug trafficking conspiracy” which involved the shipment of hundreds of tons of cocaine to the US. In return, Hernández received “millions of dollars in bribes and proceeds” according to the prosecutors’ indictment obtained by the Financial Times.
![Ukraine under attack: How the West will react?](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ukraine-under-attack-How-the-West-will-react.png)
Ukraine under attack: How the West will react?
On the night of February 23-24, 2022, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine. During this event, we will talk about the current situation in Ukraine and the prospects for the West’s reaction.
![“The Future of European Integration” – summary report](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/felczak.png)
“The Future of European Integration” – summary report
“The Future of European Integration” and “Digitization in the European Union” were two events in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which is an opportunity for European citizens to debate on the bloc’s challenges and priorities. The event was held jointly by the Wacław Felczak Institute of Polish-Hungarian Cooperation and the Sobieski Institute while the Warsaw Institute provided media support. The online debate was attended by experts from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The working language was English.
![War In Donbas Is Most Likely Scenario](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/żołnierze.png)
War In Donbas Is Most Likely Scenario
As shelling intensified in eastern Ukraine, Russia is accusing Ukraine of drafting an offensive plan and evacuating “civilians” from Donbas while it staging an “all-out mobilization” in what is known as “people’s republics,” a new chapter of the Russia-Ukraine war is just about to begin.
![While In Moscow, Germany’s Scholz “Prompted” Putin To Invade Ukraine](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BVase8HZU1BYY8sBz83Va0eSjerSAcep.jpg)
While In Moscow, Germany’s Scholz “Prompted” Putin To Invade Ukraine
The trip that the German chancellor paid to Kyiv and Moscow failed to ease tensions in eastern Europe. In fact, Scholz made Zelensky a kind of disservice by agreeing with the Kremlin on the need to fulfill all commitments under the Minsk agreements and by claiming the Ukrainian president would be prepared for potential concessions. Vladimir Putin felt empowered to attack Ukraine and blame Kyiv for not having implemented what is known as the Minsk agreements.
![Joe Biden’s stance towards the crisis in Ukraine – American Alert 2](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Bidens-projection-of-weakness-and-the-Ukraine-Crisis.png)
Joe Biden’s stance towards the crisis in Ukraine – American Alert 2
On February 18, 2022, the event “Biden’s projection of weakness and the Ukraine Crisis” organized by the Warsaw Institute took place. This event was the second episode of a series of interviews for the American Alert project conducted by the editor-in-chief of the Warsaw Institute and an expert on the United States, Jan Hernik. During the meeting, the issue of the growing threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and the actions of the administration of the President of the United States, Joe Biden in connection with the attempt to de-escalate the conflict, was raised. The special guest of the event was Prof. Clifford Angell Bates, political scientist of the University of Warsaw and Norwich University.
![Enhanced Presence of the US Troops on NATO’s Eastern Flank](https://warsawinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/33240001740_fd609517f4_k.jpg)
Enhanced Presence of the US Troops on NATO’s Eastern Flank
The soldiers of the 82nd US Airborne Division arrived at the Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport (southeastern Poland) in early February. American troops flew to Poland directly from the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, onboard Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. This enhanced military presence on NATO’s eastern flank demonstrates the awakening of the American administration, led by President Joe Biden.