Russia
The Brief, powered by Orgalim – Once in power, always in power
Deng Xiaoping created a post-Mao model of governance in China: president and prime minister for five years, with a possible second consecutive mandate. But he retained control of the powerful Central Military Commission, thus supervising all the crucial processes in the country.
Russia’s ruling party approves Putin’s pick Mishustin for new PM
Russia’s ruling party on Thursday (16 January) unanimously backed President Vladimir Putin’s surprise choice for prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, a man with almost no political profile.
Russian prime minister and government resign after Putin speech
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday (15 January) that his government was resigning to give President Vladimir Putin room to carry out the changes he wants to make to the constitution.
Kazakhstan and Belarus to discuss oil supply deal
Kazakhstan and Belarus will discuss an oil supply deal before 20 January, Kazakhstan Energy Minister Nurlan Nogayev told reporters on Wednesday (15 January), without explaining the significance of that date.
Russia urges Persian Gulf nations to consider a joint security mechanism
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday (15 January) Moscow has been urging Gulf countries to consider a common security mechanism for the region and it was time the world got rid of unilateral measures such as sanctions.
EU powers to trigger Iran nuclear deal dispute mechanism
Britain, France and Germany will trigger the dispute resolution mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, two European diplomats said on Tuesday (14 January), the biggest step the Europeans have taken in response as Tehran has backed off nuclear commitments.
Merkel and Putin’s forced ‘rapprochement’
Russia's international influence has led to stronger cooperation between German Chancellor Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But what can both leaders achieve? EURACTIV's media partner Der Tagesspiegel does a Q&A.
Libya peace talks in Moscow fall short of ceasefire deal
Libya’s warring leaders made some progress at indirect peace talks in Moscow on Monday (13 January) but failed to agree on an open-ended ceasefire to end a nine-month war over the capital Tripoli.
Ukraine and Donbas separatists exchange 200 prisoners in controversial swap
Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists in the country's war-torn east exchanged 200 prisoners on Sunday, swapping detained fighters for civilians and servicemen held captive in some cases for years in two breakaway regions.
How US sanctions could hit Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas project
US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions last week on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline designed by Moscow to bypass Ukraine and increase gas supplies via the Baltic Sea to Germany, Russia’s biggest energy customer.
Russia, Ukraine agree ‘in principle’ new gas deal, signature expected in Minsk
Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission, after hours-long talks on Thursday, agreed in principle on a new gas deal starting after 1 January 2020, European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič told a briefing. Ukraine is a key transit route for...
Bill sanctioning Nord Stream 2, Turkish Stream goes to White House, Russia cries foul
US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project are a breach of international law and an example of unfair competition, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday (18 December).
Europeans alarmed as US mulls pull-out of yet another arms control treaty
Washington's threat to leave the Open Skies Treaty, a pact allowing countries to conduct surveillance flights over each other’s territory, has left Europeans concerned that yet another landmark arms control accord might suffer the same fate as the Intermediate-Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
Turkey warns it could kick out US from Incirlik nuclear base
Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Wednesday (11 December) that the United States could be barred from using two strategic air bases in retaliation to possible US sanctions against his country, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Russia’s Chizhov: ‘I’m sure we will witness a new beginning under this EU cycle’
Russia’s long-serving EU ambassador Vladimir Chizhov expects ‘a new beginning” in EU-Russia relations during the new EU institutional cycle, he told a reception he hosted on Tuesday (10 December) to mark 30 years since the then USSR started relations with the European Communities.
Normandy summit upholds ‘Steinmeier formula’ for Eastern Ukraine
Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in their first face-to-face meeting, took part in nine hours of talks in Paris on Monday (9 November), brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Russia banned from Olympic Games for altering doping data
Russia was banned from the Olympics and other major world championships on Monday (9 December) after sporting officials decided to punish it for tampering with doping-related laboratory data in another blow to Russia’s already tarnished sporting reputation.
Don’t cede too much to Putin, Ukrainians tell Zelenskiy ahead of Paris summit
Thousands of people gathered in the center of Kyiv on Sunday (8 December) to send a message to Ukraine’s president, who meets his Russian counterpart on Monday, that Ukrainians will not accept a peace deal at the cost of the country’s independence and sovereignty.
Did Hungary turn to the Russian Duma for support against Ukraine?
Hungary has a deep controversy with Hungary over minority rights. In this context, a heated controversy has unfolded over reports that Budapest asked the Duma, the lower chamber of Russia's parliament, for joint efforts to uphold minority rights in Ukraine.
Ukraine: Pro-western opposition sets ‘red lines’ ahead of ‘Normandy’ summit
Three Ukrainian opposition factions have proposed their red lines, including the return of Crimea to Ukraine's full control, ahead of a four-way Normandy summit to be held on in Paris on Monday (9 November).
Yerman Mukhtar: We don’t build walls in the steppe
In a wide-ranging interview, Yerman Mukhtar, the chairman of the Kazakh parliament's committee on foreign affairs, defence and security, explains his country's foreign policy initiatives, known as 'the Three Dialogues'.
Zelenskiy offers curtain-raiser ahead of ‘Normandy summit’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with representatives of foreign media ahead of the 9 December summit in Paris, which will return to the effort of finding a solution to the crisis in Eastern Ukraine after a long break.
Unsurprisingly, Russia refuses Dutch request to hand over MH17 suspect
Russia has refused a Dutch request to hand over a suspect in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, in violation of European law, prosecutors said on Monday (2 December). Until recently the suspect was in Ukrainian custody, but was sent to Russia in a prisoner swap.