Podcasts · Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

Is Europe at war with Russia? Russia seems to think so

23 Oct 2026 · 29 min

Has Russia’s war with Ukraine spread beyond both countries borders?

From cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns to attacks on critical infrastructure, one of Poland's leading Russia analysts Marek Menkiszak argues that Moscow sees itself in a broader confrontation with what it calls the "collective West".

Speaking with Geraldine Doogue, Menkiszak explains why Poland considers itself on the frontline, how Russia seeks to influence elections across Europe, and why countries like France, Germany and the UK matter so much to the Kremlin's strategy.

He also discusses whether NATO's response has been strong enough, how Russia is using nuclear threats as psychological warfare, and why some European leaders believe Moscow will continue testing Western resolve until it faces much higher costs.

If Russia already believes it's at war with the West, how should democracies respond without triggering a wider conflict?

Guest: Marek Menkiszak, head of the Russian department at the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Warsaw.

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