Europe's East
Russia ready to allow ships leaving Ukraine with food in exchange of lifting of sanctions
Russia is ready to provide a humanitarian corridor for vessels carrying food to leave Ukraine, in return for the lifting of some sanctions, the Interfax news agency cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying on Wednesday (25 May).
Ukraine gathers Russian dead in chilled train for prisoner exchange
Ukraine is gathering the bodies of dead Russian soldiers strewn among the rubble of formerly occupied towns and using everything from DNA to tattoos to verify their identities in the hope of exchanging them for prisoners of war.
Russian parliament passes bill allowing Moscow to close Western news bureaus
Russia's parliament on 24 May passed a bill giving prosecutors powers to shut foreign media bureaus in Moscow if a Western country has been "unfriendly" to Russian media, following the closure of some Russian state news outlets in the West.
Donbas fighting rages as Russia eyes prolonged war in Ukraine
Russia signalled on Tuesday (24 May) it was bedding in for a long war in Ukraine as the conflict entered its fourth month with heavy fighting in the east but signs of some normality returning elsewhere.
EU to unveil plans for seizing Russian assets frozen by sanctions
The Commission is set to unveil plans on 25 May which will make it easier to confiscate frozen assets linked to serious illegal activities and suspected criminals, including those evading EU sanctions against Russia, according to documents seen by EURACTIV.
Soros says ‘civilization may not survive’ Ukraine war
US billionaire George Soros warned Tuesday (24 May) that "civilization may not survive" Russia's invasion of Ukraine but said Europe could have a stronger position against President Vladimir Putin regarding gas than it realises.
The Brief – Demoralising is ugly, not delivering is worse
Why do some European leaders keep saying that it may take decades before Ukraine can join the EU? Out of a pure sense of self-preservation.
No Russia oil embargo discussion at EU summit, says Hungary’s Orbán
Hungary will not drop its opposition to an EU embargo on Russian oil any time soon, and so EU leaders should not discuss the issue at next week’s summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told European Council President Charles...
Von der Leyen: Russia weaponises hunger, grain as way to wield global power
Russia is deliberately weaponising food and hunger to wield global power, according to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen, who warned that it is the world’s most vulnerable who will bear the brunt of its actions.
Freedom and security more important than profit, NATO chief tells Davos
Western countries should not trade security for economic profit, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned on Tuesday (24 May), pointing to the risks of leaving close economic ties with Russia and China unchecked.
Pro-Russian ex-president of Moldova detained for ‘treason’
Moldova on Tuesday (24 May) detained pro-Russian ex-president Igor Dodon on suspicion of treason and corruption, prosecutors said, as the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine has heightened tensions in the country seeking EU membership.
Russia launches all-out assault to encircle Ukraine troops in east
Russian forces were launching an all-out assault to encircle Ukrainian troops in twin cities straddling a river in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday (24 May), a battle which could determine the success or failure of Moscow's main campaign in the east.
Ukraine war crimes ‘another Nuremberg moment’, US says
Prosecutors will be ready with indictments in hand to hold Russians accountable for war crimes in Ukraine, US ambassador for global criminal justice Beth Van Schaack told EURACTIV, adding that prosecuting Vladimir Putin personally would be possible, though difficult.
Russian diplomat in Switzerland says he resigns over Ukraine invasion
A Russian diplomat at the country's permanent mission at the United Nations in Geneva said on Monday (23 May) he was leaving his post because of his disagreement with Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, a rare political resignation over the war.
EU oil embargo ‘in days’ as Ukraine isolation drives Russia closer to China
The EU will likely agree an embargo on Russian oil imports "within days," according to Germany, as Moscow said it saw its economic ties growing with China after being isolated by the West over its invasion of Ukraine.
Four EU countries call for use of Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine
Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia and Estonia will call on 24 May for the confiscation of Russian assets frozen by the European Union to fund the rebuilding of Ukraine after Russia's invasion, a joint letter written by the four showed on Monday.
The Brief – Russia’s hub in the heart of Europe
The European Union has gone to great lengths to sanction Russia over its military aggression against Ukraine and the war crimes committed there. Some of the sanctions are very painful for EU countries, as many of them depend on Russian...
Zelenskyy tells Davos: Thousands of lives could have been saved had the West acted faster
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for more weapons and "maximum" further sanctions against Russia on Monday (23 May), as he declared that tens of thousands of lives would have been saved had the international community acted faster.
‘The key moment for Ukraine is the growing international support’
The only way to stop Russian fascism is to make Russia suffer deep military defeat in the war against Ukraine, writes Roman Rukomeda.
France sees no EU entry for Ukraine before ’15 or 20 years’
A bid by Ukraine to join the European Union would not be finalised for "15 or 20 years," France's Europe minister said Sunday (22 May), pouring cold water on Kyiv's hopes for quick entry in the wake of Russia's invasion.
Global elites return to Davos under Ukraine storm
The Davos summit of global political and business elites returns Monday (23 May) after a Covid-induced two-year break to face another momentous crisis: Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders discuss ‘peace treaty’ over Nagorno-Karabakh
The leaders of arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed in a Brussels meeting Sunday (22 May) to "advance discussions" on a peace treaty over a troubled region that saw a war break out in 2020, the European Council's president said.
Ukraine rules out territorial concessions, as Russia steps up attacks
Ukraine ruled out a ceasefire or any territorial concessions to Russia, and Poland's president said any loss of Ukrainian territory would be a "huge blow" to the entire West as he warned against appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin.