What was shared by our speakers:

Nikola Jokanovic, Chinese Foreign Policy Expert: China’s reluctance to introduce sanctions against Russia is best explained by the Sino-Russian economic relations (which have experienced a tremendous development in the previous years and include inter alia energy imports, needed for China’s economic growth) and Sino-Russian ties within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China’s policy moves are directed at reducing the tensions between Ukraine and Russia, but also at protecting Chinese citizens currently present in Ukraine

David Klepic, Foreign Policy Analyst: Went the “West” and the EU to far or went the Russia too hard? The EaP colapsed since almost every country included in this framework is more or less effected with the instability. Belarus officially suspended the EaP in June 2021 and Ukraine is facing full scale aggression since 28th of February. The War in Ukraine showed us that Russia was not going to accept the “western model” of prosperity on its borders or in its interest Zone. Despite the Kremlin’s decision to attack the Ukraine, Russian security interests must have been more respected in the past. We are witnessing the overlap of the conflicting interests and the return of the realism and the hard power to the international relations.

Mitko Arnaudov, International Relations Expert: Economic profit and national security: two enemies in recent international relations. But, where is the question of humanity or people becomes, as usual, collateral damage? Ukrainian War opens many questions, but above all, one is key: Does economy do not recognize the need of the contemporary ordinary humanity – to live safe, predictable and in well-being conditions?