Europe's East
Lithuania wants EU to bar east Ukraine’s Russian passports
Lithuania is working with the European Union to establish a common policy not to recognise Russian passports issued in east Ukraine, currently controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, Vilnius said Tuesday (6 August).
Ukraine president on course for unprecedented majority after election win
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looked set on Monday (22 July) to become Ukraine's first leader since the fall of communism to command a single party majority in parliament, in what would be an unprecedented mandate to deliver promised reforms.
Ukraine president on course for commanding win in parliamentary election
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s party took a commanding lead in the snap parliamentary election on Sunday (21 July), consolidating the power of the novice politician whose stunning rise has upended traditional politics in the war-scarred nation.
Moldova FM: We want to move as quickly as possible on EU accession
There is a high consensus in Moldova that we want good relations with Brussels and Moscow, but we have no alternative to strong pro-European integration, Moldova's new foreign minister, Nicu Popescu, told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
Zelenskiy’s Ukraine: Greenhorn challenge
Balázs Jarábik looks into the stakes of Sunday’s (21 July) Ukraine parliamentary elections, in which President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party rides high. Uncertainty prevails as to how he will deliver once he gets to power, Jarábik writes.
Georgia suggests taking an unconventional path to EU accession
Georgia staked its claim to becoming an EU member on Thursday (11 July), even if it meant an innovative approach and "knocking on every door", its president told an international conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi.
Tusk hopes for ‘higher level’ of EU-Azerbaijan ties
On a visit to Baku on Tuesday (9 July), Council President Donald Tusk said the EU and Azerbaijan were “coming closer to each other every year”, and expressed the Union’s readiness to further deepen our cooperation with Azerbaijan, including in fields such as human rights.
Russia calls tirade against Putin on Georgian TV a ploy to derail ties
Russia on Monday (8 July) condemned an obscenity-laden tirade against President Vladimir Putin on a Georgian TV station, calling it a shameful and unacceptable provocation by radical political forces intended to damage relations.
At Kyiv summit, EU pledges more aid for war-torn east Ukraine
European Union leaders Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker pledged support and financial assistance to conflict-riven Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv on Monday while urging Russia to do more to bring peace to the Donbass region.
Chizhov: Washington chose to act unilaterally to abrogate nuclear arms treaty
In a wide-ranging interview, Russia's Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov, speaks about nuclear arms control, the EU elections and top jobs, the situation in Ukraine, including the MH17, and America's bid to challenge Russian gas.
What is the Eastern Partnership and what it’s not
Georgia intends to continue on its path to EU membership and wants to use all available opportunities and instruments to achieve this self-proclaimed objective, writes David Zalkaliani.
Ukraine has found a home in the European family of nations
As President Voldymyr Zelenskiy host on Monday (8 July) his first Ukraine-EU summit, a partnership forged in adversity continues to go from strength to strength, writes Alexey Perevezentsev.
Ukraine hopes for a dedicated EU Commissioner from Europe’s East
In a wide-ranging interview, the Ukrainian ambassador to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi discussed the wide range of topics ahead of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv on 8 July, and beyond.
Trudeau promises support for Ukraine in wake of Russian ‘aggression’
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau promised Tuesday (2 July) to support Ukraine in the wake of Russian "aggression," after a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Toronto.
Ukraine’s message: Values mean values, without any ‘buts’
Who are those ready to forgive Russia thousands of killed Ukrainians and millions of internally displaced persons, and pardon Moscow for the occupation of 7% of Ukraine’s territory, Mykola Tochytskyi asks in this exclusive opinion piece.
Ukraine slams Russia’s reintegration into the Council of Europe
Ukraine on Tuesday (25 June) slammed as an “unacceptable concession to Russia” the decision of the Council of Europe to re-admit Russia, after the country was stripped of voting rights following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Thousands in Tbilisi demand Georgia’s de-oligarchisation
Thousands of anti-government protesters rallied on Monday (24 June) in the Georgian capital for the fifth consecutive day as the increasingly unpopular ruling party's promise of sweeping reforms failed to appease mass demonstrations.
War veterans join biggest gay pride march in Ukraine
War veterans in fatigues joined more than 8,000 people marching in Kyiv's Gay Pride parade amid tight security on Sunday (23 June), the biggest ever annual celebration of diversity in ex-Soviet Ukraine.
Georgian protesters slam ‘Putinism’, raise pressure on ruling oligarch
Several thousand anti-government protesters took to the streets of the Georgian capital Tbilisi for a fourth day on Sunday (24 June) as tensions rose between Moscow and its ex-Soviet neighbour.
Thousands of protesters try to storm Georgia parliament
Thousands of protesters attempted Thursday (20 June) to storm the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi, furious that a Russian lawmaker addressed the assembly from the speaker's seat during an international event.
Russians, Ukrainian to face murder charges over downing of Flight MH17
Three Russians and a Ukrainian will face murder charges for the deaths of 298 people aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, the international investigative team said on Wednesday (19 June). The suspects...
Main takeaways from the Moldovan political crisis
Although the new coalition comes with risks, Moldova is now in a unique position to restore its democratic track record and recommit to its path of pro-European reforms, write Cristina Gherasimov and Iulian Groza.
Will Brussels turn its back – again – on the Balkans?
Will the EU honour its word to Tirana and Skopje or will Brussels – not for the first time – leave the Western Balkans stewing in its own juice? All eyes are on the reaction of EU foreign ministers to last week's inflammatory rhetoric by two Balkan leaders, writes Denis MacShane.