Rymarz Zdort Maruta Promotes Geopolitical and Business Dialogue in Warsaw 2025

On the occasion of the Warsaw Security Forum 2025, Rymarz Zdort Maruta, in cooperation with our StrongerTogether partner firm Freshfields, hosted a high-profile panel discussion on 30 September 2025. The event focused on the security challenges faced by Central and Eastern Europe and the role business can play in shaping the future of the region.

The discussion was opened jointly by Paweł Rymarz (Rymarz Zdort Maruta) and dr Stephan Waldhausen (Freshfields). Natascha Doll, a Freshfields partner, moderated the panel. Our distinguished panellists included U.S. Ambassador (ret.) Mark Brzezinski; German Ambassador (ret.) Rolf Nikel; Jolanta Jaworska, Director Government and Regulatory Affairs at IBM; Arnab Das, Invesco’s Global Market Strategist; and Grzegorz Należyty, Vice President Eastern Europe and Managing Director at Siemens Energy. Together we explored how businesses can react when the geopolitical and economic environment in which they operate is shifting and difficult to predict.

Opening the discussion, Paweł Rymarz, a managing partner, reflected on the lessons of history:

“On June 4th, 1989, the communists suffered a decisive defeat, and communism came to an end in Poland. A domino effect soon followed, and our part of Europe became democratic while the Soviet Union itself collapsed. At the beginning of the 1990s, Francis Fukuyama famously proclaimed the “end of history”, suggesting that liberal democracy had triumphed and that the world would steadily progress for the better. And yet, here we are, thirty-five years later. Is our world truly a better place than it was in the early 1990s? I am afraid this is a rhetorical question. This sobering reality raises fundamental questions for all of us.”

The discussion eventually revealed a nuanced picture of the region during which justifiable concerns about uncertainties in CEE were intertwined with perspectives on resilience, prosperity and sustainable growth.

On the one hand, from an economic perspective, the CEE region is a growth engine within the European Union with strategic importance for supply chains, technology development and energy policy. This makes the region exciting for investors. As Jolanta Jaworska emphasised: “As a US IT company invested in Poland for 35 years, we feel a strong sense of resilience and optimism, believing that increased regional cooperation and technological innovation can foster stability and growth despite the challenging global political landscape.”

At the same time, the geopolitical realities cannot be overlooked. Rolf Nikel noted: “Europe’s security has never been challenged as much since the end of the Cold War. We live in a twilight zone between peace and war with Russia. In the new multipolar world, Europe and America must stick together to defend our common interests and values.”

The panellists also stressed that security extends beyond military threats and has long been about much more than just tanks on the battlefield. Access to the internet and the influence of public opinion through the spread of disinformation online can severely destabilise society and economic life. Companies need to recognise these challenges early on. Cybersecurity, energy security and the protection of critical infrastructure are becoming increasingly important aspects of corporate risk management.

Resilience and innovation were recurring themes, as Arnab Das underlined: “In order to keep up with the challenge of the following decades, Europe must have a very different debate than it is currently having. It requires lot of change and streamlining to be fit for the future.” The current situation brings with it great opportunities for innovations that will support business models in becoming resilient.

Poland’s pivotal role was also at the forefront. As a dynamic EU economy and a frontline NATO state bordering Ukraine, Poland faces both unique opportunities and heightened risks. Mark Brzezinski observed:

“Poland in 2025 is a country with local roots and global reach, and the future looks very bright. But the geostrategic context of the country is very fragile. More than many countries, Poland could as easily regress rather than progress if the regional developments are not well managed.”

Europe can learn a lot from Poland and Ukraine when it comes to adapting to a new geopolitical climate quickly and ensuring resilience. At the same time, Europe should be openly cooperating with Poland and Ukraine to ease the tensions that have been undermining the sense of security and stability not only in Poland, but also globally, especially in the European Union. Many states no longer view one another merely as distant neighbours or alliance members, both in terms of geopolitics and business, given that nearly every market reacts to geopolitical shifts.

The discussion underscored that businesses must not only prepare for risks, but also seize the opportunities presented by geopolitical change. The dual reality of risk and opportunity requires companies to think strategically, act with resilience and adapt swiftly. A powerful conclusion emerged: there is no free trade without freedom, and every business has a role to play in shaping the geopolitical environment.

This event formed part of Rymarz Zdort Maruta’s broader efforts to foster dialogue at the intersection of law, business and international affairs through local and cross-border initiatives aimed at helping companies strengthen resilience and adapt to a rapidly evolving environment.

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