Europe's East
Moldova’s government voted down, EU sees ‘worrying signals’ for the reform
Moldova’s government was brought down by a no-confidence vote on Tuesday (12 November), threatening more instability just five months after pro-Western Prime Minister Maia Sandu took office promising to fight corruption.
Fake attack on TV studio flags erosion of media freedom in Ukraine
Many viewers in Ukraine were taken in by what looked like an anti-terrorist forces swoop on a TV studio during a live show on Thursday (7 November). It now appears that journalists had staged the fake attack to flag the authorities’ pressure on their work.
Belarus leader visits Austria, seeking closer EU ties
Belarus's isolated leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday (12 November) visits Austria, marking his first trip to an EU member in more than three years as he seeks closer ties amid tensions with Russia.
Moldovan president says coalition government may collapse
Moldovan President Igor Dodon said on Thursday (7 November) the former Soviet republic’s coalition government could collapse following a move by the prime minister to take on powers to nominate the prosecutor general.
Donbas foes to pull back troops ahead of Normandy-type summit
Ukraine's army and Kremlin-backed separatists are set Friday (8 November) to complete the last phase of a troop pullback in the war-torn east in a key step towards a high-stakes summit with Russia.
US ambassador to EU admits ‘insidious’ pressure on Kyiv to investigate the Bidens
US diplomat Gordon Sondland told a Ukrainian official his country would likely not get nearly $400 million in security aid unless they pursued investigations demanded by President Donald Trump, revising earlier testimony to the Trump impeachment inquiry.
Ukraine ready in case transit of Russian gas stops
Ukraine is ready for the gas transportation being stopped on the Ukrainian territory in case a new gas transit contract with Moscow is not negotiated, Ukraine's Energy Minister Oleksiy Orzhel announced on Monday (4 November). The current gas contract expires on 31 December.
Donbas foes fail to pull back troops in new push
Ukrainian soldiers and Moscow-backed separatists on Monday (4 November) failed to begin the last phase of a troop pullback in the war-torn eastern Ukraine, delaying a high-stakes summit with Russia.
Georgia: Private sector gives suggestions for a way forward
Georgia, a country championing economic reform and ranking seventh in the World Bank 'Doing Business' index, gave the floor on 23 October to experienced businessmen to identify ways of further improving the investment climate.
If Ukraine wants more Europe, corruption must end
When the recent phone call between US President Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelensky went viral, it made headlines for several reasons, none of them good, writes Alexandr Vondra and explains what Ukraine should do to tackle crime and corruption.
Hungary blocks NATO statement on Ukraine over minority rights row
Hours before a Russian state visit to Budapest on Wednesday (30 October), Hungary vetoed a joint NATO statement about Ukraine because it did not mention the “deprivation of rights” of the Hungarian minority in the neighbouring country's Transcarpathia region.
Tamar Chugoshvili: The ‘dynamics’ in EU politics are hugely discouraging for Georgia
In a wide-ranging interview with EURACTIV, Georgian politician Tamar Chugoshvili speaks of the reactions in her country following the recent EU decision not to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, and of Georgia’s plans to remain in the EU orbit nevertheless.
New impeachment witness rocks White House
A decorated Iraq War veteran rocked the White House Tuesday (29 October) with devastating testimony on Donald Trump's alleged extortion of Ukraine as Democrats laid out plans for the public phase of the impeachment inquiry threatening his presidency.
EU-mediated Russia-Ukraine gas talks in deadlock
Russia and Ukraine need a sense of urgency in their talks on gas transit for Europe, the European Union's energy chief said after the latest round in Brussels on Monday (28 October) failed to yield progress.
Poroshenko calls on Zelenskyi to knock on NATO’s door
Ukraine's former pro-Western President Petro Poroshenko challenged his successor on Friday (25 October) to request the country’s accession to NATO's Membership Action Plan, considered as the antechamber to the military alliance.
Impeachment horror plunges US into early Halloween
The calendar says Halloween is still a week away, but impeachment is delivering the horror show early to Washington.
Zelenskiy embarrassed by corruption scandal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged on Wednesday (23 October) members of parliament's Finance Committee, including from his own party, to take a polygraph test in the wake of bribery allegations.
EU almost invisible at major Silk Road forum in Georgia
No high-level EU Commission official was to be found at the opening of a two-day Silk Road Forum in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Tuesday (22 October), which was attended by 2,000 delegates from some 60 countries, including several EU member states.OpinionPromoted content
Hasty EU statements don’t reflect reality
An unauthorized rally attempt in central part of Baku by some opposition groups was presented in a one-sided and distorted manner. Hasty EU statement on rally does not reflect reality as well.
Medvedev confirms support for Serbia as it readies free trade deal with Eurasia
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev reiterated Moscow's support for Serbia during a visit to Belgrade on Saturday (19 October) and announced the signing of a free trade agreement between Serbia and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Ukrainian oligarch linked to Zelenskiy suffers blow in London court
Ukraine’s new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hardly expected to become a protagonist in a possible impeachment of his US colleague Donald Trump. On top of that, his name has now also appeared in the press in relation to a London court case of possible financial malpractice involving billions of dollars.
Erdogan thanks Orban for ‘support at the international stage’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met in Baku on Tuesday (15 October), on the fringes of the Turkic Council, a group of countries speaking the same family of languages, which Hungary wants to join.
Trump ex-Russia adviser Fiona Hill testifies in impeachment inquiry
Donald Trump’s former Russia adviser testified for more than nine hours on Monday (14 October) behind closed doors, the latest witness summoned in the impeachment inquiry against the US president over his request that Ukraine investigate a political rival.