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
Experts & Staff
Jana Kobzova
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 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
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
Beyond the battlefield: Europe’s long-term strategy for Ukraine
Mark Leonard is joined by Camille Grand and Jana Kobzova to discuss ECFR’s new European Security programme and the war in Ukraine
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
The long game: How Europeans can shape the outcome of Ukraine-Russia talks
The second meeting between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul has shown that a settlement is a distant prospect. To strengthen Ukraine’s hand in future talks, Europeans have a three-fold task
Ceasefire in Ukraine?
Mark Leonard welcomes Jana Kobzova to discuss whether a flurry of last-minute diplomacy can prevent a Ukraine settlement on Russia’s terms
7 Mar
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
29 Jan
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…
Forging peace: Europe’s role in Ukraine’s future
Mark Leonard welcomes Camille Grand, Jana Kobzova, and Nicu Popescu to discuss European security guarantees for Ukraine and the path to sustainable peace
Publications
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
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
The long game: How Europeans can shape the outcome of Ukraine-Russia talks
The second meeting between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul has shown that a settlement is a distant prospect. To strengthen Ukraine’s hand in future talks, Europeans have a three-fold task
Zelenskiy in Donbas
Volodymyr Zelenskiy needs to invest resources and display openess towards the Donbas region's residents.
Easing the EU’s Eastern Partnership fatigue
The EU is right to demand reforms from its Eastern Partners – but its own expectations need to adjust to the region’s realities
Western solidarity with Ukraine: Do it yourself
Kyiv is making a dangerous mistake in confusing western solidarity with unconditional support for the Ukrainian government and its policies
Ukraine’s hot political autumn
Monday’s violent protest outside the parliament and the departure from the coalition of the Radical Party have kicked off Ukraine’s hot political autumn
Eastern Partnership after Riga: rethink, reforms, resilience
The EU should stop rewarding its eastern neighbours’ promises and anchor its aid on reforms delivery
View from Bratislava: Slovakia changes course on Russia
Slovakia has taken steps to diversify its economic interests away from Russia, which has altered its calculus on sanctions
Putin’s new world order: Ukraine after the referendum
Three pieces by ECFR's leading Wider Europe experts on the current situation in Ukraine, Putin's appeal for a new world order, and Germany's crucial role within the EU
Ukraine’s U-Turn: The real battle for Ukraine has just started
It is time for the EU to stop talking, start listening and act where Ukraine needs the assistance the most: with ensuring its economic stability, laying down new foundations for the rule of law and democracy and strengthening those who advance reforms
Podcasts
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
Beyond the battlefield: Europe’s long-term strategy for Ukraine
Mark Leonard is joined by Camille Grand and Jana Kobzova to discuss ECFR’s new European Security programme and the war in Ukraine
Ceasefire in Ukraine?
Mark Leonard welcomes Jana Kobzova to discuss whether a flurry of last-minute diplomacy can prevent a Ukraine settlement on Russia’s terms
Forging peace: Europe’s role in Ukraine’s future
Mark Leonard welcomes Camille Grand, Jana Kobzova, and Nicu Popescu to discuss European security guarantees for Ukraine and the path to sustainable peace
Russia, Ukraine, and Europe’s war economy
Mark Leonard welcomes Jana Kobsova and Nicu Popescu to discuss Russia, Ukraine, and the EU’s changing response to the conflict
Ukraine Under President Zelensky
Podcast de notre débat du 21 mai « Ukraine Under President Zelensky » en présence de Victor Andruziv, directeur de l’Ukrainian Institute for…
Events
7 Mar
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
29 Jan
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…
4 Dec
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…
24 Oct
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…
In the media
ECFR experts Jana Kobzova, Leo Litra, Lesia Ogryzko, Rafael Loss and Jim O’Brien comment on the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska
Jana Kobzova on the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska
Jana Kobzova on the motives underlying the Alaska-summit between Trump and Putin
Jana Kobzova on the future of European security
Jana Kobzova on the outcome of Trump and Putin’s Alaska summit, and the consequences for Europeans