Russia
Kremlin critic Navalny says he may have been poisoned
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was discharged on Monday (29 July) from a hospital where he was treated for symptoms of an acute allergy, said he may have been poisoned, a suspicion shared by his lawyer and personal doctor.
Have Russia and China gone too far with harvesting personal data for visa applications?
If you plan to travel to Russia or China for the holidays, you may be surprised by the countries' visa application processes, both of which request a substantial quantity of personal data.
1,400 arrested at Moscow election protest, EU reacts
The EU denounced “disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters” on Saturday (27 July), after Russian police arrested nearly 1,400 people as they gathered in Moscow at the weekend to demand free and fair elections, the biggest such crackdown in years.
F-35 or SU-35? Erdogan says Turkey to turn elsewhere
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday (26 July) Turkey would turn elsewhere for fighter jets if the United States will not sell it the F-35 jets, adding that a US decision to cut Ankara from the program would not deter it from meeting its needs.
Conte tells the Italian Senate he stands by League over Russia funding scandal
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday (24 July) he had continued trust in the League party within his coalition government despite allegations it had sought illicit funds from Russia.
Warsaw says Trump to attend invasion of Poland anniversary
Poland said on Thursday (18 July) US President Donald Trump would attend events in Warsaw marking the 80th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the country - though the White House said the trip was not yet confirmed.
Estonia’s president calls on EU to work with Russian civil society
Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid was in Paris for the French military parade on Bastille day (14 July). She participated in a working lunch organised at the Elysée on European defence issues. As a champion in cyber defence and digital services, Estonia is an important ally for France. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Russia calls tirade against Putin on Georgian TV a ploy to derail ties
Russia on Monday (8 July) condemned an obscenity-laden tirade against President Vladimir Putin on a Georgian TV station, calling it a shameful and unacceptable provocation by radical political forces intended to damage relations.
Russia nuclear sub fire ‘could have caused global catastrophe’
A fire aboard a top-secret Russian nuclear submarine could have led to a “catastrophe of global proportions” if not for the selfless actions of the crew, a senior navy official was cited by a Russian media outlet as saying.
Putin, visiting Italy, says wants Rome to help mend Moscow-EU ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (4 July) he hoped Italy would battle to restore fully fledged relations between the European Union and Russia and help persuade the bloc's new leadership that sanctions on Moscow were counter-productive.
PACE’s Russian restoration will set a dangerous new precedent in Europe
Despite its continued meddling in European affairs, Russia has been reinstated in the Council of Europe, with full voting powers. The decision will only encourage Moscow to continue its erratic behaviour on the European continent while others, like Turkey, may follow its example, writes Mark Temnycky.
Ukraine hopes for a dedicated EU Commissioner from Europe’s East
In a wide-ranging interview, the Ukrainian ambassador to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi discussed the wide range of topics ahead of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv on 8 July, and beyond.
Trudeau promises support for Ukraine in wake of Russian ‘aggression’
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau promised Tuesday (2 July) to support Ukraine in the wake of Russian "aggression," after a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Toronto.
Western intelligence hacked ‘Russia’s Google’ Yandex to spy on accounts
Hackers working for Western intelligence agencies broke into Russian internet search company Yandex in late 2018 deploying a rare type of malware in an attempt to spy on user accounts, four people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Latvia might quit Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly as Russia returns
Latvia said Thursday (27 June) that lawmakers will vote next month on whether to suspend its participation in the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly after the rights body agreed to reinstate Russia.
Putin calls liberalism ‘obsolete’, Tusk offers strong rebuttal
EU President Donald Tusk on Friday (28 June) lashed out at his Russian counterpart in unusually undiplomatic language, saying he "strongly disagreed" with Vladimir Putin when he said liberalism was "obsolete."
Baltic power games in the ascendancy
Europe’s power politics are playing out more and more in the Baltic Sea, as the energy potential of the sea basin shifts more into the limelight.
Council of Europe elects new chief amid row over Russia
Europe’s leading democracy and human rights organisation elected a new leadership late on Wednesday (26 June), overshadowed by the walk-out of several delegations following the ratification of Russia’s return to the assembly. With 159 votes from 268 members of the...
Ukraine’s message: Values mean values, without any ‘buts’
Who are those ready to forgive Russia thousands of killed Ukrainians and millions of internally displaced persons, and pardon Moscow for the occupation of 7% of Ukraine’s territory, Mykola Tochytskyi asks in this exclusive opinion piece.
Ukraine slams Russia’s reintegration into the Council of Europe
Ukraine on Tuesday (25 June) slammed as an “unacceptable concession to Russia” the decision of the Council of Europe to re-admit Russia, after the country was stripped of voting rights following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Trade and horsetrade: Top five hot-button G20 issues
Global trade, geopolitical hotspots around the world and even horse-trading over top EU jobs, G20 leaders have a lot of their plate when they meet from Friday (28 June) in Osaka.
Russia warns of repeat of 1962 Cuban missile crisis
The US deployment of land-based missile systems near Russia’s borders could lead to a stand-off comparable to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Monday (24 June).
France hosts Russia’s Medvedev in rare high-level visit
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday (24 June) held talks with Russia's premier Dmitry Medvedev, in a rare high-level visit at a time of frosty ties between Moscow and the West.
Council of Europe assembly authorises Russia’s return
The Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly agreed Tuesday (25 June) to allow Russian representatives to return to the body, five years after it was stripped of its voting rights over the annexation of Crimea.