New Eastern Europe Magazine

We find ourselves at a pivotal moment with the recent results of the US presidential election marking Donald Trump’s return to the White House. There is little doubt that this shift signals significant changes ahead, with far-reaching impacts on geopolitics and the political landscape, also in Central and Eastern Europe. Trump is often described as “unpredictable,” especially when it comes to foreign policy. This unpredictability mirrors the core theme of this issue: uncertainty.

Tony van der Togt opens the issue by examining how Europe might navigate these turbulent times, posing a vital question: “How prepared is Europe to assert its own sovereignty and make independent decisions?” Among the many challenges, the continued uncertainty surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine looms especially large, with implications that extend far beyond the region. The Trump team has outlined a plan for ending the war, however the terms are unclear and Ukraine, as the victim of unprovoked aggression, deserves its interests to be considered in any peace agreement. Author Sofia Oliinyk points out that any negotiations need to respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and foster a just and lasting peace for its people.

Looking further, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu may have secured a second term, yet her push for a referendum on Moldova’s European future faced near-collapse due to intense Russian interference. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party retained power amid widespread accusations of vote manipulation and an unfair electoral process. In the Western Balkans, aspirations for EU membership in North Macedonia and Montenegro are now on shaky ground, as political divisions and democratic backsliding pull these nations further from Brussels.