Russia in Global Affairs

Changes in the significance of the four main functional spheres —international security, economic development, humanitarian issues, and climate agendas—affect not only various international processes, but also the status of states with differing capacities and roles in these spheres. This report presents the key indices based on the International Hierarchy Expert Survey (IHES) data.

Predicting the future has become increasingly difficult. The pace of global change is so rapid that events which once unfolded over decades now take place within a single year. While the equidistance of these shifts is hard to pinpoint, there are key people, trends, and events worth watching in 2025.

The UK has been kinder than most countries to Ukrainian refugees since 2022. They are allowed to work, and most do. They can claim pensions and other social security benefits from the state, and have access to free medical care. That may all come to an end this year.

The military operations and territorial advancements signify not only an immediate strategic goal but also a broader ambition for Israel to redefine its borders and its role on both the regional and international stages—unless a well-considered proposal for a peace initiative with Israel emerges from the new state in Syria.