This panel offers a comprehensive overview of regional imaginations, attitudes, and political responses toward Russia, with attention focused on the impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It aims to examine how selected countries of East-Central Europe perceive Russia today and how these perceptions are shaped by historical memory, geopolitical experience, and contemporary security concerns. By bringing together diverse national perspectives, the discussion will explore both convergences and differences in the region’s approaches to Moscow.
The panel will connect past experiences—such as imperial domination, Soviet control, and post-Cold War transformation—with current political debates and policy choices. It will address how historical legacies influence public opinion, foreign policy orientations, defence strategies, as well as regional cooperation initiatives in response to Russia’s actions. Special emphasis will be placed on the ways in which the war against Ukraine has redefined threat perceptions and reinforced or reshaped regional solidarity.
By merging historical reflection with an analysis of the present moment, the panel seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of East-Central Europe’s evolving relationship with Russia as well as the broader implications for European security and regional stability.
Panel „Central and Eastern European perceptions of Russia ”