Flash Points: How Putin’s war has transformed Ukraine’s neighbors

Moscow’s grip is tightening in Eastern and Central Europe. JULY 14, 2024  |  [VIEW IN BROWSER](  |  [SUBSCRIBE](     Sponsored by [GATE21]( [State flags of Russia and Transnistria fly close to the monument of the 18th-century Russian military commander Alexander Suvorov in the town of Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, on Sept. 12, 2021. ]( State flags of Russia and Transnistria fly close to the monument of the 18th-century Russian military commander Alexander Suvorov in the town of Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, on Sept. 12, 2021. Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images We often hear that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has transformed Europe, forcing many nations to reimagine their approaches to everything from energy to defense and security. But the conflict, now well into its third year, hasn’t just jolted the continent out of postwar complacency. In some of the countries that border Ukraine, Russia’s neoimperial ambitions have upended domestic politics, shifted geopolitical strategies, and influenced elections. This edition of Flash Points examines how Moscow has tightened its grip on five of those states: Belarus, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, and Slovakia.—Chloe Hadavas   [1]( [Ukraine’s War Is Killing Another Country]( How Moldova’s fate has become tightly tied up with its neighbor’s. By Paul Hockenos   [2]( [How Orban Became Putin’s Pawn]( Among all of Russia’s useful idiots, few have sought to make themselves more useful than the Hungarian prime minister. By Keith Johnson   [3]( [Next Door to Ukraine, Moscow’s Grip Is Tightening]( In Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova, the Kremlin is waging a quiet war to consolidate its hegemony. By Jeffrey Mankoff   [4]( [Russia Just Helped Swing a European Election]( Slovakia’s new Russia-friendly president won office with the help of a barrage of pro-Kremlin disinformation. By Paul Hockenos   [5]( [How Georgia Sided With Its Enemy]( Georgians are angry at the government’s pro-Russian turn. By Ani Chkhikvadze Sponsored [Guatemala: Striding from Crisis to a Brighter Future]( Having undergone an historic institutional crisis, Guatemala’s new administration is plotting a path to boost inward investment and usher in a new era of stability to drive forward the region’s largest economy. Strategic sectors, high-impact infrastructure, investment opportunities, tourism and more. [Learn more](.   [Summer Sale Extended!]( Our summer sale just got better. Now, save 15 25% on an annual subscription. Broaden your perspective with FP's 's hard-hitting analysis, access to on-demand interviews with experts, quarterly magazines, and more. [SAVE $50](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( You’re receiving this email at {EMAIL} because you signed up for FP's Flash Points newsletter. [MANAGE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES]( | [VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Interested in partnering with FP on events, podcasts, or research? [Explore FP Solutions](. [Foreign Policy]( is a division of Graham Holdings Company. All contents © 2024 Graham Digital Holding Company LLC. All rights reserved. Foreign Policy, 655 15th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20005.