Russia’s Election & NATO’s Eastern Flank: What Comes Next? | Weekly News Roundup
What comes next after Russia's parliamentary “election”? And how is NATO's eastern flank preparing for the possibility of a wider security crisis? In this week's Talk Eastern Europe news roundup, Adam Reichardt and Alexandra Karppi discuss Russia's parliamentary election results, speculation about a possible new wave of military mobilisation, and the implications for the war in Ukraine and security across Central and Eastern Europe. With Poland warning of potential Russian provocations and Lithuania preparing civilian evacuation plans, the conversation turns to how NATO's eastern flank is responding to growing uncertainty. What does civilian preparedness look like, and how are Poland and Lithuania working together? We also turn to Romania, where another attempt to form a government faces significant parliamentary obstacles. Can the country's political parties find a way out of the deadlock, and what role will the Social Democrats play? BONUS for Patrons: Alexandra has just returned from Serbia, where she attended student protests and spoke with people on the ground. In an exclusive bonus conversation, she shares her impressions of Belgrade, the protest movement and the political atmosphere ahead of Serbia's elections. Watch the extended episode and join our community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope We are an independent, listener-supported podcast covering politics, security and society in Central and Eastern Europe. Your support helps us produce regular news roundups, in-depth interviews and bonus content. Subscribe to Talk Eastern Europe for our weekly news roundup and Deep Dive interviews with experts from across the region. What do you make of the security preparations taking place in Lithuania and Poland? Share your thoughts in the comments below. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:57 Russia’s parliamentary election results 03:30 Could Russia launch a new wave of mobilisation? 06:08 Ukraine, the approaching winter and security concernsin Poland 9:45 Lithuania’s evacuation plans and cooperation withPoland 11:05 Romania’s political crisis and the struggle to form agovernment 15:36 China’s influence in Serbia and the Western Balkans