What are the broader implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for European security and multilateralism?

In this conversation, Tadeusz Iwanski from the OSW Centre for Eastern Studies in Warsaw reflects on how Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has reshaped the European security landscape and tested the resilience of multilateral institutions. Filmed at the EU-VALUES Conference in Jakarta in December 2025, the discussion examines how the EU and European partners have responded to the crisis, and whether Europe has managed to uphold its foundational values under sustained geopolitical pressure.

Note: the debate on the proposed reparations loan to fund Ukraine discussed in this video is no longer a viable policy option in its original form. EU leaders ultimately chose a different financial instrument: a €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan financed through common EU borrowing and backed by the EU budget — rather than the previously debated plan to use immobilised Russian assets as the basis for a reparations-linked loan. You can read more about that in the resources linked below.

Tadeusz Iwanski's explores the effectiveness of the EU response, identifying where multilateral frameworks have demonstrated strength and where weaknesses have become visible. Particular attention is given to the role of Belarus — from political repression and its strategic alignment with Russia to issues such as sanctions and the weaponization of migration against EU member states like Poland and Lithuania. Looking ahead, the conversation assesses how the evolving Russia–Belarus relationship affects the war’s dynamics and what challenges this triangular relationship poses for European security policy, regional stability, and the future of a values-driven European order.

🎥 Topics covered

• The broader geopolitical implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

• The EU and NATO response: strengths and shortcomings

• Belarus’s role in the conflict and regional security

• Sanctions, hybrid tactics, and the weaponization of migration

• Multilateralism under pressure

• Can Europe remain values-driven in times of war?
  

🛎️ This video is part of EU-VALUES Talks, a series by the EU-VALUES Network exploring how European values are debated, contested, and reshaped in today’s political landscape. Subscribe to our channel for more expert-led conversations on EU foreign policy, security, and global governance. If you enjoyed this video, please like, comment, and share your thoughts on Europe’s evolving security order in the comments below. Or get in touch with us at: euvalues@ibei.org. we would love to hear from you!

Resources:

• Commission presents a financial support package for Ukraine for 2026–2027: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/press...

• More on the OSW Centre for Eastern Studies: https://www.osw.waw.pl/en

#UkraineWar #EuropeanSecurity #Multilateralism #NATO #EUforeignpolicy #Belarus #EUvalues #Geopolitics #EUVALUES‍ ‍