The Common and Divergent Features of the Effects of the Russian-Ukrainian War in the Wider Central and Eastern European Region

Abstract

This paper examines how the escalation of the Russian–Ukrainian war since February 2024 has exerted common and different effects on the Central and Eastern European, as well as Nordic countries. It does so primarily by drawing on the studies published in the current issue of Nation and Security. As these studies cover different timeframes, we complement these, where necessary, to provide a unified overview of the reactions of these countries to the Russian–Ukrainian war. The paper follows the structure of the country studies and, with a regional focus, seeks to answer the following questions: What were general political and social reactions to the war? How is Russia represented in their threat perception? Has there been a major shift in foreign and security policy since February 24, 2022? What is the primary focus of the responses to war: North Atlantic, European or regional? What role did the countries of the region play in the adoption of sanctions against Russia?
In what form did they support Ukraine? Have the countries’ strategy documents changed – and if so, how? How have defence budgets changed? Finally, what dynamics of armed forces development can be observed triggered by Russia’s repeated military aggression?