An interview with Sebastian Schäffer about the recent developments in the Russo-Ukrainian War

On AIQAhera channel IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer talked about the recent developments in the Russo-Ukrainian War, failed and fulfilled expectations as well as prospects for future. The whole interview (in Arabic) is available here: 

An interview with Sebastian Schäffer about the termination of the Grain Deal for Asharq News

IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer spoke with Asharq News about the termination of the Grain Deal, the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine-Council on 26 July 2023, the heinous attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian ports and the destruction caused in Odesa as well as the Danube as an alternative export route.

You can watch the interview (in Arabic) here. 

A debate with Sebastian Schäffer (IDM) about the EU Summit on Asharq News

IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer was invited to talk about the priorities of the current EU summit in Brussels for Asharq News, a TV station based in Dubai. Together with colleagues from Berlin and Paris, he analysed possible outcomes, especially with regards to security guarantees for Ukraine as well as the next round of sanctions towards the Russian Federation. When being asked who is paying are higher price for the sanctions, Moscow or Brussels, Schäffer stated that Ukraine in paying the highest price with being invaded, infrastructure being destroyed as well as people being killed. The upcoming NATO summit as well as the relationship between the EU and China were also part of the discussion. 

An Interview with Sebastian Schäffer for Asharq News

Sebastian Schäffer was interviewed by Asharq News regarding Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former chef of Putin and head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, insinuating a possible civil war like in 1917 due to lack of commitment from the Kremlin. While the guest from Russia, Elena Suponina – Consultant at the Center for International Affairs, tried to frame it as a military tactical maneuver, the IDM Managing Director offered different perspectives. While it might very well be all a charade, there is also the possibility to publicly blackmail the Kremlin to provide what Prigozhin demands. His explicit accusations of unprofessionalism and corruption against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff Valery Gerasimov could also indicate political ambitions. In any case remarkable are his comments regarding Ukraine: Instead of denazification and demilitarization, everyone globally now knows the country, which is now highly equipped as well as able to “(…) easily and successfully work with all systems – Soviet, NATO systems, you name it”.

Ein Interview mit Daniela Apaydin über Herbert Kickls Träume einer Orbanisierung Österreichs, bei PULS 24

FPÖ-Chef Kickl bezeichnete Viktor Orbáns Ungarn kürzlich als „Vorbild“. Doch was würde das bedeuten? Wie hat der „Orbánismus“ Ungarn verändert? Drei Expertinnen warnen.

„Was die FPÖ mit ‚Vorbild Orbán meint, haben wir im Ibiza-Video gesehen. Es gehe um die politische Kultur, wie man mit der Opposition umgehe, wie der Parlamentarismus zum „Bühnenstück“ verkommt und darum, wie man mit Dauerwahlkampf Stimmung für sich macht. Ein Vorbild für Populisten also.

Die FPÖ habe mit Orbán zudem ideologische Überschneidungen: Nationalismus, Fremdenfeindlichkeit, Familienpolitik. Es gehe den Blauen bei Auftritten mit Orbán aber auch darum, jede Bühne zu nutzen, sich bei Terminen mit Staatsoberhäuptern zu profilieren und sich als Regierungspartner ins Spiel zu bringen“

sagt Daniela Apaydin.

Das vollständige Interview können Sie hier lesen.

Sebastian Schäffer – „It will be a day of celebration for Ukraine, Europe, and the whole world”

“Both the visit of Ursula von der Leyen as well as the declaration to celebrate Europe Day instead of Victory Day on 9 May in Ukraine are symbolic.”

Sebastian Schäffer told this to EDnews whilst commenting statement made by Ursula von der Leyen and a decree signed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, according to which May 9 is declared Europe Day in the country instead of Victory Day.

Read the whole interview here.

 

Sebastian Schäffer (IDM) für Phoenix Television/ HongKong

Phoenix Television, ein Fernsehsender mit Hauptsitz in Hong Kong, sprach mit Sebastian Schäffer (IDM) über die gegenseitige Ausweisung von russischen bzw. deutsche. Diplomat*innen sowie die Einflussnahme des Kremls auf die Zivilgesellschaft in Deutschland. Ausschnitte des Interviews wurden in zwei Beiträgen veröffentlicht, die Passagen sind auf Deutsch abrufbar: 

Russland-Spezialist: Russland hat versucht, die deutsche Unterstützung für die Ukraine zu beeinflussen

Russland weist Diplomaten als Vergeltung für die sich verschlechternden Grenzbeziehungen Deutschlands aus

Malwina Talik: President Macron is only one of European leaders and his sentiment is not shared across the EU

“The EU is not on the same page regarding its approach towards the US. Some countries like Poland or the Baltic states are proponents of the very close Euro-Atlantic alliance. With his statement Macron represents the position of some EU politicians but not of the EU as whole.”

commented Malwina Talik  on Macron’s remarks that Europe must reduce its dependency on the United States and avoid getting dragged into a confrontation between China and the US over Taiwan.

Read the whole interview for the Eurasia Diary here.

Sebastian Schäffer: It is against the interest of the Kremlin

“We have heard the justification for the actions of the Kremlin from the very beginning. For me it remains the typical approach to blame everyone else and resort to playing the role of the victim”

commented Sebastian Schäffer on the accusation of the Kremlin that the West has been waging a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. 

Read the whole interview for the Eurasia Diary here.