Russia
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.
Expert: Nazarbayev pushed Russia and Ukraine to meet in Paris
In a wide-ranging interview, Ariel Cohen, a US lobbyist with ties to Kazakhstan, spoke about the various international initiatives of the Central Asian country, including improving US-Russia relations, finding a solution to the Ukraine crisis, nuclear arms control and more.
Russia cements role as gas ‘kingpin’ with three new pipelines
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping launch Monday (2 December) a gas pipeline that is the first of three ambitious projects intended to cement Moscow's role as top gas exporter.
Don’t trust Russia, Sentsov warns Europe ahead of Normandy summit
Freed Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov warned Europeans against attempts to thaw ties with Russia as he belatedly received his 2018 Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament’s annual human rights award, on Tuesday (26 November). Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in...
Amid Russia’s tightening embrace, Belarus seeks better ties with EU
Belarus is interested in building good-neighbourly ties with the European Union, and in particular with Stockholm and Helsinki, if there are no preconditions from the bloc, Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday (25 November).
Putin, Zelenskiy discuss natural gas in phone talk
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy have discussed natural gas supplies to Ukraine and gas transit via the country further into Europe, the Kremlin said in a statement on Monday (25 November).
Serbia’s president accuses Russia of spying
Serbian intelligence agencies have uncovered a wide-ranging intelligence operation involving Russian spies and members of the Serbian military, President Aleksandar Vučić said on Thursday (21 November).
Amid NATO tensions, Estonian President highlights Russia risk
NATO should be ready to defend Estonia should the country face risks emanating from its neighbour Russia, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid has told EURACTIV. Her comments came following French President Macron's recent claim that the alliance is 'brain dead.'
Russia balks at Turkish idea of new Syrian military operation
Russia said on Tuesday (19 November) it was bewildered by a Turkish pledge to conduct a new military operation in northern Syria if the area was not cleared of people Ankara calls terrorists, warning that any such move would damage efforts to stabilise the region.
Russia’s EU ambassador: The fall of the Berlin Wall was ‘a victory of common sense’
In a wide-ranging interview, Russia’s Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov spoke about gas transit talks with Ukraine, NATO and EU enlargement, nuclear arms control, Russia’s sales of the S-400 anti-aircraft system, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Brexit.
Russia returns captured ships to Ukraine, paving road to ‘Normandy’ summit
Russia will return three captured naval ships to Ukraine on Monday and is moving them to a handover location agreed with Kyiv, Crimea's border guard service was cited as saying by Russian news agencies on Sunday (17 November).
Top Putin aide named by MH17 airliner investigators
An international investigation into the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on Thursday (14 November) released a series of phone intercepts, including one between a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin and pro-Russian rebels accused in the crash.
Russia shuts down second rights group, drawing EU concern
A Moscow court has ruled to dissolve an indigenous peoples' rights group, the second decision of its kind in less than a week that was criticized by European authorities on Thursday (7 November).
Donbas foes to pull back troops ahead of Normandy-type summit
Ukraine's army and Kremlin-backed separatists are set Friday (8 November) to complete the last phase of a troop pullback in the war-torn east in a key step towards a high-stakes summit with Russia.
Russia calls for closing UN office in Bosnia
Russia called Tuesday (5 November) for closing the office of the UN High Representative in Bosnia, claiming the senior UN official there is biased.
Ukraine ready in case transit of Russian gas stops
Ukraine is ready for the gas transportation being stopped on the Ukrainian territory in case a new gas transit contract with Moscow is not negotiated, Ukraine's Energy Minister Oleksiy Orzhel announced on Monday (4 November). The current gas contract expires on 31 December.
EU-mediated Russia-Ukraine gas talks in deadlock
Russia and Ukraine need a sense of urgency in their talks on gas transit for Europe, the European Union's energy chief said after the latest round in Brussels on Monday (28 October) failed to yield progress.
Russia sends S-400 missile defense systems to Serbia for military drill
Russia said on Thursday (24 October) a division of its S-400 missile defense system would take part in a military drill in Serbia, underlining Moscow’s wish to keep a traditional ally on side even as Belgrade pursues links with NATO and the European Union.
Russia, Turkey reach ‘historic’ deal on Syria border
Russia and Turkey agreed on Tuesday (22 October) to ensure Kurdish forces withdraw from areas close to Syria's border with Turkey and to launch joint patrols, in a deal hailed as "historic" by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.