Press Release
on the organization of the debate "Dangers of new "spheres of influence" for Moldova, Ukraine and the EU". Debates series held by the news agency IPN in its conference room with the support of the German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”

Held on 14 February 2025, brought together: Marin Gherman, director of the Institute of Political Studies and Social Capital in Chernivtsi, Ph.D. lecturer at "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava; Andrei Curăraru, an expert in international relations and security and Igor Boțan, IPN project’s standing expert.

On February 11, it was 80 years since the conclusion of the Yalta Conference in 1945, at which the then leaders of the United States, the Great Britain and the Soviet Union endorsed the results of World War II, established the new world order in the post-war period and divided the zones of influence between the three great powers. On the other hand, today we have a large-scale war of aggression in this region of Europe, waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Against this background, there has been more and more insistent talk about a possible peace process. The “zones of influence" and "iron curtains" after World War II, their possible restoration as a result of the future peace process, the dangers of possible consequences for the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the European Union were among the topics discussed by the experts invited to IPN’s public debate "Dangers of the new "spheres of influence" for Moldova, Ukraine and the EU".

Igor Boţan, the permanent expert of IPN’s project, explained that spheres of influence represent the assertion of an exclusive right to supervise another country/countries or to participate in establishing the balance of power and policies of another state or states vis-à-vis other countries in general or in specific areas. In fact, these spheres are a manifestation of international rivalry between powers of equal power.

The military capabilities of some states have increased to the extent that there is a risk that new nuclear wars will apparat at some point, said Marin Gherman, director of the Institute of Political Studies and Social Capital in Chernivtsi, Ph.D. lecturer at "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava.

"We are in a context in which Russia wanted, simultaneously with Putin’s coming to power, greater importance at global and international levels. It's a period of revenge. Russia, feeling like a defeated party in the wake of the 'cold war', has a desire to become important, to be along the biggest global players," said Gherman.

The former Soviet space, the states that were part of the Russian Empire and the USSR, are seen by Russia as its geopolitical zone of influence. That is why the rapprochement with the West of Ukraine or of another state that was once part of the USSR is seen by the Putin administration as a catastrophe, noted Marin Gherman.

"Here we are already talking about clashes of interests, clashes of ideological visions and this is how we found ourselves with a big war close to the borders of Romania and the Republic of Moldova," he also pointed out.

Andrei Curăraru, an expert in international relations and security, said that this war waged today by Russia is certainly an internationalized one.

"Even judging by the direct participants, we understand that there are North Korean troops there on the fronts and this shows that it is not a conflict between two states, but it is at least a regional confrontation, if not a global one. As for the zones of influence, we realize that the Russian Federation wants to return to that system that existed until recently, when it played a key role, had extensive influence, both in Europe and in its former colonies," said the expert.

According to him, it is clear that it is a war that aims to establish another security architecture on the European continent.

"This was always seen very well in Putin's relationship with NATO. Putin does not believe in globalization. Even these territorial gains for him are essential and we see how every kilometer of Ukraine's territory is sprinkled with blood, which in the end makes to believe that he will continue this war and, even if we talk about an eventual ceasefire agreement, we must not think that Ukraine is the only objective of the Russian Federation", said Andrei Curăraru.

The public debate entitled "Dangers of the new "spheres of influence" for Moldova, Ukraine and the EU" was staged as part of the project "Developing political culture through public debates". IPN Agency carries out this project with support from the German "Hanns Seidel" Foundation.

The Agency published 4 news stories on the debate (see the English version of www.ipn.md): on 14.02.25, "Dangers of new "spheres of influence" for Moldova, Ukraine and the EU". IPN debate - https://www.ipn.md/en/dangers-of-new-spheres-of-influence-for-moldova-ukraine-and-the-eu-ipn-debate-8004_1111892.html; “Andrei Curăraru: Format of negotiations on ceasefire in Ukraine will evolve” - https://www.ipn.md/en/andrei-curararu-format-of-negotiations-on-ceasefire-in-ukraine-will-8004_1111894.html; „Marin Gherman: A very fragile peace is possible in Ukraine” - https://www.ipn.md/en/marin-gherman-a-very-fragile-peace-is-possible-in-ukraine-8004_1111895.html; „Igor Botan: The EU must remain consistent in eliminating gray areas”;- https://www.ipn.md/en/igor-botan-the-eu-must-remain-consistent-in-eliminating-gray-8004_1111899.html.

Denis Dermenji, director of IPN