Russian War of Aggression on Ukraine
Russia’s aggression is not only an attack on the Ukraine, but also an attack on our European and international order.
DER VIERUNDZWANZIGSTE
In a film by the Ukraine Office (Kharkiv), five Sur Place scholarship holders talk about their memories of 24 February 2022, their flight from Ukraine, their current lives and their hopes for the future (only in german).
YouTube, Onlinekas
With Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, which is contrary to international law, there is no longer any doubt about the true character of Putin and his regime. The long-discussed question of Putin's intentions has been answered in sight of the whole world: he wants to subjugate Ukraine with the use of brute military force and turn it into an entity completely dependent on him. Ukraine's state sovereignty and its self-determined path towards democracy and the rule of law have no place in his world view. The attack is therefore also an attack on the European peace order, in which borders may never again be moved by force, and an attack on the international order, which is based on the right of peoples to self-determination.
Moreover, the invasion of Ukraine shows that Putin was not primarily concerned with Russian security interests. Rather, a neighbour that has embarked on the path towards democracy and the rule of law is a thorn in his side. A functioning democracy in his immediate neighbourhood threatens Putin's authoritarian rule because it presents a liberal and economically attractive alternative.
After more than eight months of war, it is clear that the Russian plan of a rapid conquest of Ukraine has not worked. On the contrary, Ukraine has managed to stand its ground against Russian aggression and to reclaim occupied territories. However, it is not yet foreseeable who will win this war, which according to serious estimates has already claimed well over 100,000 lives. The will to resist on the Ukrainian side, however, is unbroken.
The West stands together
Contrary to what was intended, Putin has united the West with his war. The sanctions against the Russian economy are having an effect, extensive military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine has strengthened its military combat capability and civilian resilience, while the weak points of the Russian military machine have become apparent. Moreover, since the beginning of the war and especially after the partial mobilisation, hundreds of thousands of mostly young and well-educated Russians have left their country, putting a heavy strain on the country's future prospects. Internationally, too, the Putin regime sees itself largely isolated, as the votes in the UN General Assembly show.
Consequences for the world order and Europe
In the future, the year 2022 will stand in a row with the years 1945 and 1989. This turning point raises numerous questions about the short-term, medium-term and long-term consequences of the war: What other victims will it claim among the Ukrainian civilian population and among combatants on both sides? Will the domestic political repercussions of the war become a danger for the Putin regime? What are the longer-term economic consequences of this war for Russia, the West and the world economy? When and how will this war end? What are the consequences of the war outcome scenarios for the people of Ukraine and for the European and international security architecture? What role can the European Union play? What are the consequences of this war for the future world order?
On this page you will find information from the Foundation's offices abroad as well as analyses and publications on the above topics and questions, which are continuously updated and expanded.
Defensive Democracy
shutterstock/Carabus • Karl-Michael Constien und racken GmbH, Berlin • yellow too, Pasiek Horntrich GbR
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has catapulted the question of the defensibility of democracy to the fore of public interest. Yet, tanks and rockets are not the only threat to our free society. Our democracy is exposed to many dangers, which are addressed in our book of essays and major campaign.
Learn more about the topic “Defensive Democracy” or go directly to the essay collection “die wehrhafte(re) Demokratie” (The (More) Defensive Democracy).
Ukraine in focus - perspectives from a European Country
Our series “Ukraine in Focus” presents viewpoints and perspectives of Ukrainian authors on prevalent topics and debates.
East Central and Southeast Europe: Political and Social Impact One Year After the Start of Russia's War of Aggression against Ukraine
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
In our country report series on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, our staff members abroad report on the situation in their countries of assignment. The reporting focuses on the concrete effects of the war in Ukraine on politics and society as well as its instrumentalisation in national political debates.
Publications to the topic
kas.de
Ratspräsidentschaft, NATO-Beitritt, Seltene Erden, Weltraumbf: Schweden im Zentrum d. Aufmerksamkeit
Eine Bilanz des 40. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 28.03.2023
Pixabay / David Peterson
Lula III: Between Euphoria and Disillusionment
Almost 100 days of the Lula government
KAS
Außenminister der Republik Moldau Nico Popescu zu Gast
Austausch über Perspektiven der Zusammenarbeit
Thomas Ehlen / kas.de
„Wir haben völlig verlernt, Kriege zu lesen“
Eindrücke von dem Fuldaer Gespräch 16. März 2023
KAS
Europas neue (Un-)Sicherheit
Münsteraner Gespräche
KAS
Freiheit braucht Sicherheit
KAS / Marco Urban
„Unsere Zukunft steht in der Ukraine auf dem Spiel“
Navigieren in stürmischen Zeiten – deutsche Sicherheitspolitik 2023
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
The Three Baltic States: Political and Social Impact One Year After the Start of Russia's War of Aggr...
Determination and unity
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
Slovakia: Political and Social Impact One Year After the Start of Russia's War of Aggression against ...
A neighbour closely at Ukraine's side
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
Serbia: Political and Social Impact One Year After the Start of Russia's War of Aggression against Uk...
One Year of Ukraine War in Serbia – “Zeitenwende” in Serbian?
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
Romania: Political and Social Impact One Year After the Start of Russia's War of Aggression against U...
From crisis reaction to long-distance running
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
Poland: political and social impact one year after the start of the war in Ukraine
Poland's role in the Ukraine conflict
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
North Macedonia: Political and Social Impact One Year After the Start of Russia's War of Aggression a...
Citizens and Parties Condemn Russian Aggression
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
Montenegro: Political and Social Impact One Year After the Start of Russia's War of Aggression agains...
One Year of the War in Ukraine in Montenegro – Political Tensions and Polarization
Reuters / Gleb Garanich
Kosovo: Political and Social Impact One Year After the Start of Russia's War of Aggression against Uk...
Kosovar Government is using the Geopolitical Antagonism in the Interest to Move Forward in the Conflict with Serbia
Events on the topic
Apr
24
2023
Welche Wege weisen in die Zukunft?
Russland, die Ukraine und Perspektiven für eine neue Europäische Friedensordnung / Frankfurter Gespräch der Konrad-Adenauer- Stiftung
Apr
24
2023
Die Zukunft der Bundeswehr
Wiesbadener Tischgespräch der Konrad-Adenauer- Stiftung
Apr
27
2023
Geheimsache BND
Der Bundesnachrichtendienst in weltpolitischen Wendezeiten
Apr
29
2023
10. Königsbronner Gespräche: Deutschland in der Zeitenwende – Zwischen Anspruch und Wirklichkeit
Das traditionelle Diskussionsformat zur außen- und sicherheitspolitischen Debatte im ländlichen Raum
Media News
Event reports on the topic
kas.de
Ratspräsidentschaft, NATO-Beitritt, Seltene Erden, Weltraumbf: Schweden im Zentrum d. Aufmerksamkeit
Eine Bilanz des 40. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 28.03.2023
KAS
Außenminister der Republik Moldau Nico Popescu zu Gast
Austausch über Perspektiven der Zusammenarbeit
Thomas Ehlen / kas.de
„Wir haben völlig verlernt, Kriege zu lesen“
Eindrücke von dem Fuldaer Gespräch 16. März 2023
KAS
Europas neue (Un-)Sicherheit
Münsteraner Gespräche
KAS
Freiheit braucht Sicherheit
KAS / Marco Urban
„Unsere Zukunft steht in der Ukraine auf dem Spiel“
Navigieren in stürmischen Zeiten – deutsche Sicherheitspolitik 2023
Thomas Ehlen / kas.de
Ein Jahr (neun Jahre?) nach dem Beginn von Russlands Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine
"Europa bedeutet, füreinander einzustehen" / Eine Bilanz des Wiesbadener Tischgesprächs und des Frankfurter Gesprächs 27. Februar 2023
KAS
Cafe Kyiv
Workshops, discussions, films, art and culture
pixabay
Russlands Krieg gegen die Ukraine und unsere Art zu Leben
Auswirkungen und Aussichten auf Deutschland und Europa mit besonderen Blick auf die Baltischen Staaten
Landesgruppe Brandenburg des Verbands der Reservisten der Deutschen Bundeswehr e.V.
Vorstöße Russlands zur Aufnahme von Verhandlungen denkbar
Diskussion "Wie umgehen mit Russland?" am 2. November 2022 in Potsdam
Twitter-Spaces „Die Agrarmärkte und der internationale Handel im Zeitalter des russischen Angriffskri...
Thomas Ehlen /kas.de
Aufgewacht in einer „anderen Welt“? Welche Beiträge Deutschland jetzt leisten muss
Eine Bilanz des Fuldaer Gesprächs 14. September 2022
Photothek / Leon Kügeler
"Energie mag teurer werden, aber Freiheit ist unbezahlbar"
Tag der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung 2022
Thomas Ehlen / kas.de
Aufgewacht in einer „anderen Welt“? Welche Beiträge Deutschland jetzt leisten muss
Eine Bilanz des Wiesbadener Tischgesprächs 6. Juli 2022
Wie wirksam sind die Russlandsanktionen?
kas.de
Frankreich im Wahlkampf – Themen und Prognosen
Eine Bilanz des 31. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 21.03.2022 und Teil 2 unserer Veranstaltungsreihe "Französische Wochen in Europa und Hessen".
Media library
