Russia
Trump leaves Turkey, Russia, Syria ‘to argue it out’
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (16 October) he did not mind Russia helping Syria in a conflict with NATO ally Turkey and rejected criticism of his withdrawal of US troops from Syria that exposed Kurdish allies, calling it "strategically brilliant."
Russia-backed Syrian army sweeps in to fill US-left vacuum
Russia-backed Syrian forces took rapid advantage of an abrupt US retreat from Syria on Monday (14 October), deploying deep inside Kurdish-held territory south of the Turkish frontier less than 24 hours after Washington announced a full withdrawal.
Ukraine sees hope for ‘last chance’ peace summit in mid-November
The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany could hold a summit in Paris in mid-November if Kyiv and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine can maintain a ceasefire, Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Monday (14 October), warning of a “last chance” for Moscow.
Ukraine, Russia resume blame game as peace process hits roadblock
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday accused Russia of delaying a summit aimed at resolving the conflict between Kyiv and pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine’s east, but Moscow said Kiev needed to pull back its troops first.
Thousands flee, hundreds reported dead in Turkish attack on Kurds in Syria
Turkey pounded Kurdish militia in northeast Syria for a second day on Thursday (10 October), forcing tens of thousands of people to flee and killing at least dozens of people in a cross-border assault on US allies that has turned the Washington establishment against President Donald Trump.
Ukraine peace drive hits first bump, but Moscow says ‘Normandy’ summit possible
Ukraine on Wednesday (9 October) refused to pull back troops in its restive east, saying for the second time this week that continued shelling by pro-Russian separatists there precluded the implementation of a disengagement agreement.
Democrats alarmed about possible US withdrawal from Open Skies treaty
Four senior Democratic lawmakers said on Tuesday (8 October) they believed the Trump administration may withdraw from a treaty that allows unarmed surveillance flights over US, Russian and other territory, warning it would be a gift to Russia and undermine confidence in the US commitment to Ukraine.
Thousands rally in Kyiv to protest the ‘Steinmeier formula’ for eastern Ukraine
Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv's main square on Sunday (6 October) to protest against President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's deal with Moscow to grant autonomy to Ukraine's pro-Russian rebel-held east as part of efforts to end a five-year conflict there.
Zelenskiy pushes for Donbas election, faces domestic backlash
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday (3 October) that Ukrainian candidates should take part in an election that is expected to be held in the east of the country, currently controlled by pro-Russian rebels.
EU Commission hopeful of Russia-Ukraine thaw as many in Kyiv denounce ‘capitulation’
The European Commission commended on Thursday (3 October) a recent diplomatic meeting in the Belarus capital Minsk, which gives hope for an international summit to stop the fighting in Eastern Ukraine. But many in Ukraine see the development as “capitulation”.
Breakthrough at talks opens way to summit on Ukraine conflict
A breakthrough at talks between Moscow and Kyiv has opened the way to the first international summit in three years being convened on ending fighting in east Ukraine.
Fighting ‘fake news’ online: How soldiers in Latvia got fooled by bots
When NATO's Centre for Strategic Communication in Riga discovered how easy it was to dupe its soldiers online, it has started looking for ways of countering false information, which comes, in large part, from Russia. EURACTIV's media partner der Tagesspiegel reports.
After Saudi attacks, Russia makes its regional presence felt
In the two weeks since attacks blamed on missiles or drones shut down half of Saudi Arabia’s oil output, the country that has arguably moved most deftly to position itself for any upside is Russia.
Thousands rally in Moscow to demand release of jailed protesters
More than 20,000 Russians took to the streets of Moscow on Sunday (29 September) to demand the release of protesters jailed over the summer in what opponents of the Kremlin say is a campaign to stifle dissent.
Russia fumes over Belarus’s refusal to host air base
Russia said on Thursday (26 September) that Belarus’s refusal to host a military air base backed by President Vladimir Putin had been an “unpleasant episode”, a rare public display of disagreement between the close allies.
Austria, Russia keep in step ahead of polls
As Austrians go to the polls Sunday (29 September), one image that stands out from the last right-wing administration is that of the foreign minister dancing with Russian President Vladimir Putin at her wedding, causing widespread derision in the small Alpine country and abroad.
Eurasia comes together in Nur-Sultan, but differences are still big
The 21st century should be defined by cooperation between Europe and Asia. That was the message of the fourth Eurasian conference, held in Kazakhstan’s capital Nur-Sultan on Tuesday (24 September). However, differences among participants prevented it from achieving concrete results.
UN sets constitution committee for Syria, but hopes to end war muted
The United Nations announced Monday (23 September) the long-awaited creation of a constitution-writing committee on Syria that will include the government and opposition, but it remained to be seen if the step could finally end the civil war.
Russia to fund modernisation of army in occupied Georgian region
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a government proposal to bankroll the modernisation of the armed forces in the occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia, a government document published online showed on Monday (23 September).
Prague to remove statue of Soviet World War II marshal
A district assembly in Prague voted on Thursday (12 September) to remove a statue of a Soviet World War Two marshal and replace it with a more general memorial following a row that has drawn in the Czech president and Russian authorities.
Brussels unlikely to appeal EU court decision hampering Nord Stream pipelines
The EU executive is unlikely to appeal a decision of the EU General Court in Luxembourg on Tuesday (10 September) to restrict the transit of Russian gas via the Opal pipeline, running on German territory.
Russia’s ruling party loses a third of seats in Moscow election after protests
Russia’s ruling United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin, has lost one third of its seats in the Moscow city assembly, final polling data cited by Russian news agencies showed on Monday (9 September), in an awkward setback for the Kremlin.
Zelenskiy slams Nord Stream 2 as Ukraine seeks LNG gas from the US
Ukraine's president on Saturday (31 August) slammed the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline set to send Russian gas to Germany as a "threat" to Europe and welcomed moves by Kyiv to tap into US gas supplies.