Against war, drought and hunger: A global coalition to prevent a food crisis
Three features of today’s unordered world are converging to create a devastating food crisis. Russia’s war in Ukraine is disrupting agricultural exports from both…
Experts & Staff
Jana Kobzová
Co-director, European Security Programme
Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
EU relations with Eastern Europe and Russia; democratisation in the post-Soviet states; Belarus; Central Asia
Languages
Slovak, English, Russian, conversational French and German
Biography
Jana Kobzova is co-director of the European Security Programme and senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Her research interests centre around developments in eastern Europe, with a focus on Ukraine and on improving the EU’s response to crises in its neighbourhood.
From 2019-2024, she was foreign policy adviser to Slovakia’s former president, Zuzana Čaputová. Before joining the president’s team, Kobzova worked as the policy director at Rasmussen Global, a political consultancy group established by former NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmusen. She also worked for the Brussels-based European Endowment for Democracy, where she developed and oversaw the EED’s grant making in eastern Europe with a focus on Ukraine, Georgia, and Belarus. Prior to that, Kobzova was a policy fellow and a programme coordinator at ECFR. She also previously led the Belarus democratisation programme at the Pontis Foundation in Slovakia.
Kobzova has co-authored several books, policy briefs, and reports on EU policymaking, eastern Europe, and democratisation processes in the EU’s neighbourhood.
The fallout of the fallout: Zelensky’s reshuffle and protests in Ukraine
Zelensky’s outgoing defence minister did not hold back in his criticism of military commanders—and his allegations deserve proper scrutiny
Is Europe’s support for Ukraine changing as the war goes on?
As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, European governments are facing difficult questions about military support, diplomacy and the long-term security of the continent. How…
Why Europeans are readier than you think to defend themselves
Public support for stronger European defence is at its highest level in years. But can European leaders translate this momentum into lasting policy change?…
The crucial role of Article 5: Can NATO hold without US leadership?
Europe’s security architecture is undergoing profound change. As the US reassesses its global priorities and questions grow over the future of transatlantic security, European…
How a Le Pen or Bardella presidency could divide Europe further
France is in a pivotal political moment. The prospect of the country electing a far-right president in 2027 raises profound questions for the future…
Home alone: Europeans are ready to defend themselves
A major ECFR poll finds the European public, in a time of rupture, thinking differently and questioning old assumptions. It reveals new political space available to their leaders (for now) and challenges them to use it
From good to not good: The impact of the war in Iran on Russia
Russia is reaping the rewards from Trump’s war in Iran, but the benefits will likely not extend beyond the short term. Here’s how Europeans can make the long term arrive more quickly
What the Iran war means for Ukraine
Mark Leonard is joined by Jana Kobzova to discuss how the war in Iran is affecting Ukraine, from US support to shifting European unity
Friends-and-family diplomacy: Lessons for Europe from Gaza and Ukraine
Trump’s family and friends are trying—but failing—to broker peace in Gaza, Ukraine and beyond. The network they are building blends diplomacy with profit. Europe needs to find a way to shape the terms
Publications
Home alone: Europeans are ready to defend themselves
A major ECFR poll finds the European public, in a time of rupture, thinking differently and questioning old assumptions. It reveals new political space available to their leaders (for now) and challenges them to use it
From shield to sword: Europe’s offensive strategy for the hybrid age
Europe’s defensive measures to shield its democracies from hybrid attacks are no longer enough. If Europeans want to protect their peace and prosperity, the time has come for them to fight back
Preventing the next war: A European plan for Ukraine
Together with the Ukrainians, Europeans should begin—now—to draw up a “beyond the horizon” plan for Ukraine in readiness for a ceasefire or even a peace deal
Georgia’s bumpy transition: How the EU can help
A new era for EU-Georgia relations?
The EU and Azerbaijan: Beyond Oil
How Europe can promote democracy in Azerbaijan
Dealing with a post-BRIC Russia
Learning to deal with a changing Russia under a familiar leader
The EU and Belarus after the election
A weakened Lukashenka means it’s time the EU started talking to Russia
European security: The spectre of a multipolar Europe
The EU needs to build a trialogue on security with Russia and Turkey
Articles
Against war, drought and hunger: A global coalition to prevent a food crisis
Three features of today’s unordered world are converging to create a devastating food crisis. Russia’s war in Ukraine is disrupting agricultural exports from both…
The fallout of the fallout: Zelensky’s reshuffle and protests in Ukraine
Zelensky’s outgoing defence minister did not hold back in his criticism of military commanders—and his allegations deserve proper scrutiny
From good to not good: The impact of the war in Iran on Russia
Russia is reaping the rewards from Trump’s war in Iran, but the benefits will likely not extend beyond the short term. Here’s how Europeans can make the long term arrive more quickly
Friends-and-family diplomacy: Lessons for Europe from Gaza and Ukraine
Trump’s family and friends are trying—but failing—to broker peace in Gaza, Ukraine and beyond. The network they are building blends diplomacy with profit. Europe needs to find a way to shape the terms
A war with no winners: The costs of US-Israeli aggression on Iran
US and Israeli strikes on Iran have plunged the Middle East into wider war. Retaliation, regional entanglements and disrupted trade make one outcome clear: no side will achieve an easy victory
Putin’s longest war: Calling time on Russia’s endurance myth
Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine has now lasted longer than the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazi Germany, with incomparably smaller gains. The West should stop buying into Moscow’s bluff that Russia is invincible; instead, it should use the Kremlin’s weaknesses and double down on its support for Ukraine to bring about real negotiations to end the war
Arctic hold‘em: Ten European cards in Greenland
Europeans have real leverage in the face of Donald Trump’s threats towards Greenland—and time on their side. They must use it to raise the prospective costs of annexation
No cash, no bullets, no say: A 10-point memo for Europe on Ukraine
Without sufficient money and weapons, Europeans will be unable to convert their talking points into a sustainable peace
What Europe should do about a bad Ukraine deal
Donald Trump’s 28-point plan to end the fighting in Ukraine would be a dream outcome for the Kremlin. Here is how Europeans can ensure it does not become their continent’s nightmare
Trump meets Putin: Why the Alaska summit is no Yalta—yet
On August 15th, the American and Russian presidents will meet in Alaska to discuss the future of Ukraine—without Ukrainians, or even Europeans, in the room. Quick results are unlikely, and in any case, Europeans still have the cards to shape them
Podcasts
Is Europe’s support for Ukraine changing as the war goes on?
As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, European governments are facing difficult questions about military support, diplomacy and the long-term security of the continent. How…
Why Europeans are readier than you think to defend themselves
Public support for stronger European defence is at its highest level in years. But can European leaders translate this momentum into lasting policy change?…
The crucial role of Article 5: Can NATO hold without US leadership?
Europe’s security architecture is undergoing profound change. As the US reassesses its global priorities and questions grow over the future of transatlantic security, European…
How a Le Pen or Bardella presidency could divide Europe further
France is in a pivotal political moment. The prospect of the country electing a far-right president in 2027 raises profound questions for the future…
What the Iran war means for Ukraine
Mark Leonard is joined by Jana Kobzova to discuss how the war in Iran is affecting Ukraine, from US support to shifting European unity
The world in 2026
Mark Leonard welcomes Julien Barnes-Dacey, Jana Kobzová, Andrew Small and Alex Vines to discuss upcoming political changes in 2026
The diplomatic minefield: What now for Ukraine?
Leo Litra and Lesia Ogryzko are joined by Eric Ciaramella and Jana Kobzova to discuss the development and its implications
Trump’s 28-point plan for Ukraine
Mark Leonard welcomes Jana Kobzova and Jim O’Brien to unpack the leaked 28-point US-Russia plan for Ukraine and its implications for European security
Ukraine, Russia and Trump’s sanctions gamble
Jeremy Shapiro welcomes Jana Kobzova and Jim O’Brien to discuss the latest twists in diplomacy between Ukraine, Russia and the West
The dog days of summer: Ukraine battles and diplomacy
Mark Leonard welcomes Jana Kobzova to break down the summer’s key developments in Russia’s war on Ukraine
Events
European Security
US military aid on pause: what’s next for Ukraine?
With the contentious Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, and the US announcing it would pause military aid to Ukraine, Kyiv faces mounting pressure. Neither Ukraine nor its European partners want the fighting to continue indefinitely – they want the ability to shape the terms of an eventual settlement. To do so, Ukraine…
Wider Europe
Don’t wait for Washington: What the EU can do for Ukraine and its own security
After taking office, Donald Trump did not stop the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. Yet, there are high expectations that his administration will at least attempt a ceasefire in the coming months. Both Ukraine and the EU countries have been waiting to see the US strategy for the settlement and calibrate their next…
European Power
Bridging expectations: The EU’s vision for 2025 and the role of the Polish presidency
On 4 December 2024 Polityka Insight and the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) organised an event in Brussels focused on the priorities of the Polish EU Presidency. The event aimed to present and discuss Poland’s key objectives and plans for its EU Presidency term. It also served as a prelude to our annual…
Wider Europe
Ukraine has a plan. Does the EU have one?
Nearly three years into the full-scale war, Ukraine has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability to counter Moscow’s relentless attacks. Now, President Zelensky has unveiled Ukraine’s victory plan, outlining a vision to end the war. While Ukraine has charted its course, what kind of vision does the EU have? What should the strategy of Ukraine’s…
In the media
Will Brown, Jana Kobzova, Nicu Popescu and José Ignacio Torreblanca on responding to Russian sabotage and subversion
Jana Kobzova on the growing strains on Ukraine’s government
Jana Kobzova on the meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”
Jana Kobzova and Pawel Zerka on European public opinion on defence spending
Jana Kobzova and Pawel Zerka on Europe’s readiness to defend itself