Russia
Putin blames EU green policies for energy price spike
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday (13 October) that the reason for the energy price spike is the shortage of electricity as a result of increased use of renewable energy.
Russia excluded from 30-country meeting to fight ransomware and cyber crime
Russia was not invited to attend a 30-country virtual meeting led by the United States that is aimed at combating the growing threat of ransomware and other cyber crime, a senior administration official said.
Navalny says prison has changed his status to ‘terrorist’
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said on Monday (11 October) that a prison commission had designated him an extremist and a terrorist, but officially no longer regarded him as an escape risk.
EU to study joint natural gas buying as response to energy price spike
The European Union will look into an option for member states to jointly buy natural gas as the bloc considers ways to protect itself against surging energy prices, according to a draft document.
Putin says Ukraine gas pipeline system can ‘burst’ at any time
In the context of skyrocketing gas prices and calls for Russia to supply more gas to the EU, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to exclude Ukraine as a transit country for such additional supplies. However, he said Russia would fully comply with its present contractual obligations for the transit of gas through Ukraine to Europe.
Nord Stream 2: Security and climate wrecking ball
Nord Stream 2 is a wrecking ball hurling towards Europe at an ever accelerating pace, it promises to improve the stability of gas supplies but will undermine it instead, writes Mykhailo Gonchar.
Moscow invites Taliban to Afghanistan talks on 20 October
Russia will invite representatives of the Taliban to international talks on Afghanistan that it plans to host in Moscow on 20 October, President Vladimir Putin's special representative on Afghanistan said on Thursday (7 October).
NATO expels eight ‘intelligence officers’ from Russian mission to alliance
NATO has expelled eight members of Russia's mission to the alliance who were "undeclared Russian intelligence officers", a NATO official said on Wednesday (6 October), the latest deterioration in East-West ties that are already at post-Cold War lows.
Germany seeks competition assurances over Nord Stream 2
Germany's energy regulator said the Nord Stream 2 pipeline must show it would not break competition rules by limiting which suppliers used it and could face a fine if it started pumping Russian gas to Germany without securing necessary approvals.
Nord Stream 2 operator begins filling controversial pipeline
The operator of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany -- criticised by some Western countries as a geopolitical weapon -- said on Monday (4 October) it had begun filling the pipeline with gas.
US and Russia say they held ‘substantive’ arms control talks in Geneva
The United States and Russia said in a joint statement that they had held "intensive and substantive" talks in their second meeting within a framework that is aimed at easing tensions between the world's largest nuclear weapons powers.
Lavrov says Mali asked private Russian military company for help
Mali has asked a private Russian military company to help it fight against insurgents, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday (25 September) at the United Nations.
US, Russian military chiefs meet in Helsinki for six hours
The top US military officers from United States and Russia held six hours of talks in Helsinki, in the first face-to-face meeting between them since 2019 as both nations adjust to the US pullout and Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
The weaponisation of Nord Stream 2 has already started
Global market trends surely play a role in explaining the current gas price rally, but the shell game played by the Kremlin is here for everyone to see unless we choose to look the other way, writes Mykhailo Gonchar.
Russia ‘responsible’ for killing dissident Litvinenko: Europe rights court
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday (21 September) ruled that Russia was "responsible" for the 2006 killing in London of the dissident former agent Alexander Litvinenko with the radioactive substance Polonium.
Rivals allege mass fraud in Russia election, EU refuses to recognise the Crimea poll
Opponents accused Russian authorities of mass fraud on Monday (20 September) after the ruling United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin, won a bigger than expected parliamentary majority despite unease over living standards.
EU foreign policy chief warns Mali against Russian mercenary deal
European Union ties with Mali could be seriously affected if it allows Russian private military contractors to operate in the country, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned on Monday (20 September).
Russia’s ruling pro-Putin party wins majority after crackdown but loses some ground
Russia's ruling United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin, retained its parliamentary majority after an election and a sweeping crackdown on its critics, despite losing over a tenth of its support, partial results on Monday (20 September) showed.
MEPs prepare the ground to cut ties with Russia’s parliament
The European Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday (16 September) making a clear distinction between the Russian people and the regime of President Vladimir Putin, which it called a “stagnating authoritarian kleptocracy led by a president-for-life surrounded by a circle of oligarchs”.
Google, Apple remove Navalny app from stores as Russian elections begin
Alphabet's Google and Apple have removed jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's tactical voting app from their stores, his team said on Friday, after Russia accused the US tech firms of meddling in its internal affairs.
Brussels should follow Biden’s lead in engaging Russia
Putin's Russia is a consistent source of tension among EU countries, but a certain degree of engagement with this country could deliver tangible benefits for the EU on increasingly urgent issues such as climate change, the Arctic, and cybersecurity, writes Nick Lokker.
Putin meets Assad, takes swipe at US and Turkish forces in Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin received his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad for the first time since 2018 and criticised foreign forces that are in Syria without permission or a UN mandate - a rebuke of the United States and Turkey.
Deal allowing Russian mercenaries into Mali is close – sources
A deal is close that would allow Russian mercenaries into Mali, extending Russian influence over security affairs in West Africa and triggering opposition from former colonial power France, seven diplomatic and security sources said.