Visegrad Insight Podcast

One year after US President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcements, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Elisabeth Braw, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and author of Goodbye Globalisation, about the accelerating unravelling of the global trading order. They discuss whether globalisation can be reprogrammed, why China is winning the game of economic statecraft, how the United States has undermined the very coalition needed to counter Beijing, and what realistic strategies Europe has left — from the Mercosur deal to manufacturing partnerships with India, Vietnam and the Philippines. The conversation also turns to the maritime order and how Iran, China, Russia and, increasingly, the United States are eroding the legal frameworks that make global shipping possible, and what the consequences will be for prices, security and Europe's economic resilience. This episode was recorded on the sidelines of the Resilient Futures Fellowship programme, organised by the Res Publica Foundation and PZU Foundation in Warsaw. Subscribe for weekly analysis on democracy, security and the economy in Central and Eastern Europe: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-account/membership-levels/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KktH76CjjkY Listen on Spotify: Listen on Apple Podcasts:

As Hungary ramps up pressure over oil transit, sanctions and European support for Kyiv, Yuliia Dziuba joins Wojciech Przybylski to explain how these moves are received in Ukraine. From the Druzhba pipeline dispute to Viktor Orbán’s political calculus, this episode examines whether Budapest is merely obstructing or actively weakening European solidarity at a critical moment in Russia's war against Ukraine. Subscribe to Visegrad Insight: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-account/membership-levels/ Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/Kutbtk5cIRkListen on Spotify: Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Poland is withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention and debating landmines on its eastern border. At the same time, nuclear ‘sharing’ ideas are resurfacing as Europe scrambles to rebuild deterrence. In this episode, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Agata Kliczkowska, assistant professor at the Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences and a Resilient Future Fellow, about where security policy ends and international law begins. We cover: - What Poland’s exit from the landmine ban signals for Central Europe - Civilian protection, deterrence and the problem of ‘temporary’ weapons - Nuclear umbrellas, French capabilities and the legal red lines of non-proliferation - What ‘democratic resilience’ means in legal terms - Why the international legal order is eroding, and why that matters for smaller states. Agata Kleczkowska is a Resilient Futures Fellow at Visegrad Insight, powered by Res Publica Foundation and PZU Foundation. Learn more about the fellowship programme: https://visegradinsight.eu/resilient-futures-fellowship/ Subscribe to Visegrad Insight for analysis, events and member-only content. Use promo code VISEGRAd35 for 35% off an annual subscription: https://visegradinsight.eu Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dVL3aSgYjAE Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6uMd77T0HqlMiVX3ZhPrwA?si=Yv35pJ74Spar7pGwNF-bEA Listen on Apple Podcasts:

Budapest is accusing Kyiv of delaying repairs to the Druzhba pipeline and threatening to restrict electricity and diesel exports to Ukraine while blocking EU measures to support Kyiv. But are these decisions really made by Viktor Orbán in Budapest, or are they shaped elsewhere? In this episode, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Visegrad Insight fellow Zsuzsanna Szabó, an energy and geostrategy expert based in Oslo, about Hungary’s deep dependency on Russian crude, the political economy of MOL’s margins and the ‘utility bill reduction fund’, and why the Druzhba standoff hits the Hungarian government where it hurts ahead of the April election. They also discuss Hungary’s threats towards Ukraine, Croatia’s potential role via the Adria pipeline and why sanctions veto politics can look less like Hungarian national interest and more like Kremlin interest. Subscribe to Visegrad Insight: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-account/membership-levels/ Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/piAVKv31AI0 Listen on Spotify: Listen on Apple Podcasts:

In this Visegrad Insight podcast, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Sigita Struberga (Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, Organisation Women for Security) about what the 2026 Munich Security Conference revealed about Europe’s strategic direction, defence-industrial reality and the eastern flank’s expectations of partners. We discuss: – Why ‘national interests’ rhetoric is back and what it means for the Euro-Atlantic community – ‘Rearmament without warmongering’ and the politics of long war preparation – Baltic ‘total defence’ thinking, societal resilience and the demand for measurable results – EU defence industry modernisation and the coming competition inside Europe Read Sigita Struberga's article based on this conversation: https://visegradinsight.eu/europe-is-preparing-but-baltic-states-want-action/ Subscribe to Visegrad Insight: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-account/membership-levels/ Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/EIA6GLeJW7M Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uoWUeqvhpI5ddsrbxjJnz?si=rUW2CrKqTNeGtyDafbl-VwListen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/europe-is-preparing-the-baltics-want-action/id1515725435?i=1000750307371&l=en-GB

Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Maria Repko, Deputy Director at the Centre for Economic Strategy in Kyiv, about how Ukraine’s economy functions under winter blackouts, missile attacks and a war-driven defence industry boom.In this episode:– What daily life looks like in Kyiv at -20 degrees with rationed electricity and broken heating– Why Ukrainians reject the ‘resilience’ label and what it obscures– Poland–Ukraine cooperation after Donald Tusk’s visit and the shift from ‘emotional’ to ‘rational’ politics– The SAFE mechanism, EU defence funding and why Ukraine’s defence industry iterates faster– What to expect from the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk– Why ‘closing the sky’ matters more than any reconstruction cheque– Frozen Russian assets and what Europe signals by keeping them immobilisedSubscribe for more conversations on democratic security, security policy and political economy in Central Europe.Support independent journalism and analysis: visegradinsight.euPodcast listeners’ code: visegrad35 (35 per cent off yearly subscription)Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E-mGAJxJ61AListen on Spotify: 00:00 Guest intro: Ukraine’s economy under war00:25 Podcast intro and context01:38 Kyiv winter, vulnerability and survival02:08 Heating destruction and electricity rationing04:21 ‘We do not like the word resilience anymore’05:16 Poland’s visit to Kyiv, new cooperation agenda07:58 From ‘emotional’ to ‘rational’ bilateral politics11:16 Subscription message (promo code)11:40 Ukraine Recovery Conference and diplomacy track13:15 Why the conference matters (Berlin, Rome, now Gdańsk)14:23 A new defence pillar and business-driven recovery15:13 ‘Close the sky’: prevention over recovery17:21 Where frozen assets sit and why it stays opaque18:50 Europe’s credibility and deterrence signal29:51 Why financial support underpins state capacity30:56 Deterrence logic and Russia’s military spending32:29 Why Russia is not preparing to stop34:07 Outro

President Petr Pavel accuses Foreign Minister Petr Macinka of blackmail, triggering what may become an emerging constitutional crisis. In this videocast, Wojciech Przybylski and Pavel Havlíček discuss what the scandal means for Czech foreign policy, defence spending and the stability of Andrej Babiš’s coalition, including the influence of the ‘motorists’ movement and Filip Turek. Read the text version of the interview: https://visegradinsight.eu/macinka-pavel-scandal-cohabitation-czechia/ Our analysis on the topic: https://visegradinsight.eu/political-cohabitation-in-czechia-turns-into-a-house-of-cards-play/ Pavel Havlíček is a 2021/2022 Marcin Król Fellow at Visegrad Insight. He is also a Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) Research Centre. His research focus is on Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine and Russia, and the Eastern Partnership. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-f1dKl4GlXI Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5trSyFe9Mh4XAZSqAgwr5t?si=-G60rjCtSjyKa-DRLu12Vg Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/AqXhN

Wojciech Przybylski talks with Radu Albu-Comanescu (Babeș-Bolyai University, Visegrad Insight Fellow) about what the World Economic Forum revealed about geostrategy, defence and the new rules of engagement from Washington, with uncomfortable implications for Central and Eastern Europe. In this episode: – Why this Davos felt ‘geopolitically consistent’ – Reactions to the ‘Board of Peace’ idea from Central and Eastern Europe – Greenland and the High NorthRomania and Poland’s balancing act: economic security in the European Union, hard security with the United States The China question Europe keeps postponing, at its own risk Follow Visegrad Insight for analysis on democratic security, geopolitical risk and the future of Central Europe. Subscribe for our newsletter and more exclusive content: https://visegradinsight.eu/membership-account/membership-levels/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zR_rnyT6dzY

Is 2026 the last year of war or the first year of peace in Europe?In this Visegrad Insight online discussion, Monika Sus and Wojciech Przybylski map out the key forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in 2026 and beyond: where democratic security is most vulnerable, and what ‘war fatigue’ and hybrid warfare can do to elections and institutions.The conversation weighs plausible 2026 scenarios for the Russia-Ukraine war, including the risks of a ‘pause’ rather than a settlement, and assesses how the United States, Russia and China shape Europe’s security system. It also explores Europe’s readiness for turbulence: defence production, resilience against sabotage and disinformation and the strategic stakes of European Union enlargement, from Ukraine and Moldova to the Western Balkans.This episode is for anyone searching for a sober prognosis of what could happen in 2026, from political dynamics to security risks and economic security choices.Recorded online on 15 January 2026. Watch on YT: https://youtu.be/UwKmeijXz-Y

In this Visegrad Insight podcast episode, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Anna Gielewska of ⁨@vsquare_project⁩ about a cross-border investigation with Front Story and Context Romania. They discuss alleged undeclared online support linked to Romanian far-right politician George Simion during Karol Nawrocki’s presidential campaign, what can and cannot be proven, and why Poland’s rules on in-kind support look outdated in the platform era. The conversation also touches on the United States National Security Strategy and the European Union debate on a Democracy Shield. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZTkBEeP9os4

Does the European Union have an ‘intelligent’ green strategy that is failing in practice while Hungary pursues a ‘dumb’ one that seems to work? In this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Hungarian journalist Vilmos Weiler about the surge of Chinese and Korean battery investments in Hungary and what this means for European competitiveness, economic security and environmental safety. This podcast is a part of our Europe Future Forum Polish-Hungarian Perspectives project. Through a programme of meetings with experts, political advisers and opinion leaders from both countries, we aim to explore Poland’s and Hungary’s perspectives on the transformations underway in the European Union at the threshold of an age of economic warfare. Supported by the Wacław Felczak Institute for Polish-Hungarian Cooperation. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0ZVjpVC-rA Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rS975XzpvScfteSbUFuaM?si=fA_K_aAVSkytXZmjQ15A4g

Wojciech Przybylski unpacks the new United States national security strategy and its ‘chaotic hypocrisy’ towards Europe, then turns to Hungary to ask what an honest energy transition would really look like.In conversation with Ada Ámon, executive director of the Budapest Climate Agency, this episode explores:– How deeply Hungary is locked into Russian oil, gas and nuclear fuel– Why successive governments chose cheap energy over efficiency and resilience– How Hungarian households have already shown they can cut consumption by twenty to thirty per cent– How EU funds were diverted away from citizens and into government buildings, weakening real climate action– What smarter pricing, better incentives and local innovation could do for Hungary’s energy future🎧 Chapters00:00 Intro – why Hungary’s energy model matters00:49 US national security strategy and ‘chaotic hypocrisy’ toward Europe09:49 Hungary’s dependence on Russian oil, gas and nuclear fuel16:43 Misused EU money, oligarchisation and lost efficiency gains24:49 How Hungarian households game the system and save energy29:47 What a genuine green transition would requireSubscribe to the Visegrad Insight Podcast and visit visegradinsight.eu for more analysis, reports and events.

Why is Ukraine plastered across Hungary’s billboards and campaign ads as if it were on the ballot itself? And what does Viktor Orbán really gain from keeping Volodymyr Zelensky in the minds, hearts and social media algorithms of Hungarians? In this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with Viktória Serdült, journalist at HVG in Budapest, about how Ukraine became the central prop of Hungary’s permanent election campaign. Together they discuss: Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jdmBOuqQgLw Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DjmhfAz6U2y4zOqa9zQ5u?si=z-nh1ZYNQj6dtGUp1V3Kbg

In April 2026, Hungarians go to the polls again. The choice is framed as ‘war and peace’ by Viktor Orbán, and ‘corruption and oligarchy’ by Péter Magyar. But is Hungary’s real problem that its oligarchs are not independent tycoons at all, but extensions of the state itself? In this Visegrad Insight videocast, Wojciech Przybylski speaks with two insiders of Hungary’s economic and political transformation: former central banker and regional investment banker András Simor and former economy minister and governor of the National Bank of Hungary Péter Ákos Bod. This podcast joins the series of conversations within the pilot Polish-Hungarian bilateral framework at the Europe Future Format by the Res Publica Foundation. Learn more about this format: https://europefuture.forum/europe-future-forum-polish-hungarian-perspectives/. Explore Europe Future Forum: https://europefuture.forum Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r-l242SBIbM Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435 Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

In this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, Tomasz Kasprowicz speaks with Andreas Treichl, chair of Erste Foundation and former chief executive of Erste Group Bank, about the future of banking, capital markets and pensions in Central and Eastern Europe. Learn more about Europe Future Forum: https://europefuture.forum/⁠ 📌 What is inside this episode: Why Central and Eastern Europe was unfairly branded the 'wild East' after the financial crisis How unfinished banking union, weak capital markets and poor pension design hold the EU back Why funded second-pillar pensions are key to Europe’s green transition and ageing societies What better financial literacy, housing policy and cross-border cooperation could do for the region

Finland’s Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, Jarno Syrjälä, joins Tomasz Kasprowicz, Vice-President of the Res Publica Foundation, to unpack how smaller European states navigate a harsher economic security environment. We discuss European Union trade unity under stress, the US–China rivalry, China’s rare earth leverage and why dialogue and flexible processes still matter. We also cover Finland’s shift after joining NATO in 2023, economic security, resilient supply chains and the balance between openness and strategic foresight. Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ https://youtu.be/4ts8BzOjNuY

Economic security alert. Wolfgang Münchau, co-founder and director of Eurointelligence, and author of ‘Kaput: The End of the German Miracle’ book, pulls no punches in an exclusive interview with Wojciech Przybylski – Germany’s mercantilist miracle is over, China now out-competes on quality, and Europe’s economic security hangs by fragile threads. From rare-earth chokeholds to failing diversification, Münchau and Przybylski expose why grand EU programmes mask a deeper inability to secure critical supply chains and strategic autonomy – Brussels and Berlin still opt for slogans over strategy. So what Central Europe must do to escape the fallout? -- Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

What do 94% of Poles dream about in 2025 – and how are their fears shaping the future?Next to the weekly democratic and economic security outlook, in this episode of the Visegrad Insight Podcast, recorded live at the Freedom Games in Łódź, Maia Mazurkiewicz – CEO of the PZU Foundation, part of the biggest Polish insurance company – unveils the first-ever comprehensive report on the dreams of Poles: “Czy Polacy potrafią marzyć?” (Do Poles Know How to Dream?), commissioned by her organisation.Despite war on the border, economic pressure, and global uncertainty, 93.5% of Poles still dream – and this groundbreaking study reveals what they dream about, why, and how dreams build resilience in turbulent times.Key Insights from the Report:Top dreams: Health, close relationships, financial stability, and a 'simple good life'Generational divide: Gen Z (18–24): Dream of love, connection, and meaningful relationships – scarred by pandemic loneliness and AI-driven isolationSeniors: Seek peace, travel, and a comfortable homeBiggest fears: Loneliness, dehumanisation from AI, political crisis – but not war as the dominant fearIs it surprising? Poles dream realistically – 87.5% focus on achievable goals, not Nobel Prizes or grandeurCommunity is king: Across all ages and regions, Poles crave belonging – a counterforce to polarisationWhy This Matters for Central Europe & Beyond:While fear-based narratives dominate strategic communication (especially from Russia), this report flips the script. Dreams = hope = motivation = resilience. As Maia says:'We need positive emotions. Dreams give people a sense of life.'Host Wojciech Przybylski explores:Can political leaders win with hope-based strategies instead of fear?Is Poland’s economic success creating a tension between money and free time so unique?What do we dream when thinking about AI? English Version Coming November 2025 – Download the Polish report now:👉 https://fundacja.pzu.pl/czy-polacy-po...Follow us and subscribe on https://visegradinsight.eu for the English launch and regional comparisons.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Why Study Dreams in a Time of Fear?02:30 – 94% of Poles Dream 05:00 – What “Simple Good Life” Really Means08:15 – Gen Z: Lonely in a Hyper-Connected World12:00 – Seniors, Travel, and Calmness as Resilience15:30 – Fears: AI, Loneliness & Dehumanisation19:00 – Can Politicians Lead with Hope?24:00 – Geopolitics of Emotion: Past vs. Future30:00 – Call to Action: Keep DreamingWatch on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

On 16 October 2025, Budapest was announced as a centrepiece of global diplomacy when the US President declared that his Russian counterpart had called to discuss peace in Ukraine, apparently triggered by Tomahawk diplomacy. But what are the real motivations behind Vladimir Putin's and Donald Trump's visits to Hungary, a key EU and NATO member state, just months before Hungary's elections? And what are Viktor Orbán's hopes and fears regarding this plan? Can the war end their way – without participation of Zelenskyy or other European leaders? Wojciech Przybylski hosts Botond Feledy from Red Snow Consultancy who unpacks a multi-level strategic interests of the three actors and offer hypotheses on why Budapest is a focal point for their activities at this time. Watch on YouTube:⁠⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠⁠ Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠⁠ Listen on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b

A quick overview of weekly developments and a special guest speaker of the Europe Future Forum. Tune in for an insightful conversation with Piotr Matczuk, CEO of the Polish Development Fund (PFR), as he discusses PFR’s pivotal role as Poland’s 'investment traffic manager.' Learn how PFR facilitates capital flows, supports Polish businesses in their international expansion, and attracts global investors to strategic projects in Poland and beyond, including initiatives like Team Poland for Ukraine. Matczuk shares how PFR drives economic resilience, fosters green transitions, and bolsters Poland’s position among the world’s top economies, all while coordinating investment opportunities with a focus on commercial viability and developmental impact. Watch on YouTube:⁠ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL52PCgrDNDoQqela9O-ZadsD35-GjRvXQ&si=qhYQFSHAHuJKZ10m⁠ Listen on Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/visegrad-insight-podcast/id1515725435⁠ Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7aA9iqd8rUxFMYMemjikuw?si=68781dd9de824b6b