Europe's East
Diplomatic double whammy as EU overtures rebuffed by Turkey, Russia
The EU's hopes of rapprochements with Turkey and Russia have been rebuffed. But these diplomatic defeats have been years in the making, writes Robert Ellis.
Ukraine mobilises NATO’s diplomatic and political means over Russia troops build-up
After Kyiv and Moscow traded blame over the worsening situation in the eastern Donbas region, Ukraine was able to mobilise its Western allies at political level, with several high-level meetings planned this week.
Ukraine says Putin snubs Russian troop build-up talks
Ukraine accused the Kremlin of ignoring its request for talks between the two countries’ presidents over a build-up of Russian troops near its border, but Moscow said its soldiers were on its own territory, unlike US forces in the region.
Blinken to return to Brussels for talks on Ukraine, Afghanistan
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Brussels this week for discussions on Iran, Afghanistan and Russian activities directed at Ukraine, a US official said.
Merkel tells Putin to pull back troops as Kremlin accuses Ukraine of provocations
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (8 April) to pull back the Kremlin's military build-up near the border with Ukraine, while he in turn accused Kyiv of "provocative actions" in the conflict region.
Ukraine calls for path into NATO after Russia masses troops
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on NATO on Tuesday to lay out a path for Ukraine to join the Western military alliance, after days in which Russia has massed troops near the conflict-hit Donbas region.
The EU should get serious about Georgia’s political crisis
The lack of visionaries in Georgian politics increases the European Union’s responsibility to make sure that the country gets out of its current crisis, write Vakshuti Menabde and Teona Lavrelashvili. By Vakhushti Menabde is director of Program of Support for...
Russia says it is in high-level contact with US over Ukraine
Russia said on Monday (5 April) it was in high-level contact with the United States about tensions over Ukraine and dismissed fears of a Russian military buildup even as it vowed to respond to new Ukrainian sanctions.
Russia warns new Donbas conflict could ‘destroy’ Ukraine, NATO rebukes Moscow
Russia warned on Thursday (1 April) that a serious escalation in the conflict in Donbas could "destroy" Ukraine as NATO voiced concern over what it said was a big Russian military build-up near eastern Ukraine.
Top US general calls Russia, Ukraine amid reported Moscow troop buildup
The top Pentagon general called counterparts in Russia and Ukraine Wednesday (31 March) as the US Defense Department expressed concerns about a reported buildup of Russian troops along Ukraine's border and in Crimea.
Ukraine says Russian military buildup threatens its security
Russia is building up armed forces near Ukraine’s borders in a threat to the country’s security, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Ruslan Khomchak said on Tuesday (30 March), accusing Moscow of pursuing an “aggressive policy” towards Kyiv.
EU-mediated Georgia crisis talks fail on second try
The second round of European Union-mediated talks between Georgia's ruling party and the opposition failed Wednesday (31 March) to resolve a political impasse sparked by elections last year, an EU mediator said.
Failure to fund Syrian refugee crisis could prompt new migration, warn UN officials
Failure to properly fund humanitarian aid missions could lead to another wave of Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe, UN officials have warned ahead of an EU-hosted donor summit this week.
Belarus takes ethnic Poles ‘hostage’, Polish PM says
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called on Belarusian authorities to stop harassing Poles living in the country after a minority activist was sentenced to 15 days in jail earlier this week. The issue will be raised at today's EU summit, the Polish PM said.
Ukraine sanctions French MEPs for visiting Crimea
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on two dozen Russian officials and three French members of the European Parliament who visited Russian-annexed Crimea without Kyiv's permission.
EU envoy heads back to Georgia to continue mediation
European Council President Charles Michel’s personal envoy to Georgia will head back to Tbilisi this week in an effort to find a solution to the ongoing political crisis that EU officials say may jeopardise the South Caucasian country’s European aspirations....
EU mediator returns from Georgia empty-handed
After a week of negotiations, the special envoy of European Council President Charles Michel returns to Brussels empty-handed, after unsuccessful attempts to find solutions for the Georgian political stalemate.
Georgian Dream MPs hope political turmoil can be resolved
EURACTIV spoke to two MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream ahead of an important deadline – 15 March, when the EU-Georgia Association Council will be held, and when a solution to the political crisis in the country is expected.
The Brief, powered by amfori – Georgia on my mind
How much good can a single man do for his country? And how many bad things? And isn’t it extraordinary if the same man can do good things during one part of his life and bad things in the other?
‘Lukashenko. Goldmine’: film alleging Belarusian leader has gilded life gets 3 million views
A film accusing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on gilded residences, planes and Rolls-Royce and Maybach cars has gained more than 3 million YouTube views since its release on Monday (8 March).
EU warms to more integration with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
The idea of offering more tailor-made integration to the three Eastern associated partner countries, -- Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, -- is gaining momentum on the Commission's agenda, according to an EU official.
Belarus journalists struggle as crackdown on media intensifies
The case of two female Belarussian journalists jailed in February for reporting about protests in Minsk once again highlighted the severity of the government's crackdown on news media in the former Soviet republic.
Kremlin urges France and Germany to stop Ukraine conflict crossing ‘dangerous line’
The Kremlin on Thursday (4 March) urged France and Germany to use their influence with the Ukrainian government to make sure that events in the part of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed rebels did not “cross a dangerous line”.