Europe's East

Hungary strikes opt-out deal, says won’t obstruct NATO’s aid to Ukraine

Est. 3min

After a day of “difficult” negotiations, Hungary confirmed on Wednesday (12 June) that it will not hinder future NATO military aid to Ukraine, but was also promised the right not to take part in such efforts.

12-06-2024

Don’t wait until Russia’s war is over to invest, Ukraine’s leaders tell businesses 

Est. 4min

A Ukrainian delegation aimed to convince hesitant businesses on Tuesday (11 June) that the war-torn country is safe for investments despite Russia’s ongoing war, as the EU is hoping to boost its efforts with new business guarantees. 

Development 12-06-2024

EU must not neglect development aid over defence, Commissioner Urpilainen warns

Est. 4min

The EU's increased defence spending priorities must not come at the expense of development aid, as this could risk isolating the continent geopolitically, the Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen warned in an interview.

Global Europe 10-06-2024

Russia appears to make headway in key Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar

Est. 3min

Russian forces appear to be making headway towards their longstanding goal of capturing the strategic Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar, according to reports on Sunday (10 June) from both sides of the more than two-year-old conflict.

France’s Macron hopes to finalise plans to send military instructors to Ukraine ‘in coming days’

Est. 3min

At the end of his two-day visit to France, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be returning from Paris empty-handed but with a number of commitments including a future coalition to send instructors to Ukraine.

07-06-2024

In Paris, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy draws parallel between D-Day and Kyiv’s fight

Est. 4min

Calling for greater unity of the international community, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (7 June) drew a parallel between the Allied D-Day landings in Normandy and Russia's war in Ukraine.

06-06-2024

US ‘will not walk away’ on Ukraine, Biden promises

Est. 3min

US President Joe Biden gave a heartfelt speech at Thursday’s (6 June) commemorations of the Normandy landings, bringing the “dark forces” of 80 years ago to those threatening Ukraine and the West today on an equal footing.

Armenia 06-06-2024

Can the West undo Russia’s malign campaign in Armenia?

Est. 6min

Often-overlooked developments in Armenia show how Western policymakers are failing to recognise and counteract the growing sophistication of Russia’s propaganda machine, writes David Grigorian.

Economy 05-06-2024

Eurozone finance ministers back G7 push on Russian frozen assets, but legal questions remain

Est. 5min

Eurozone finance ministers gave their political backing on Wednesday (5 May) to a G7 plan to provide loans to Ukraine by using windfall profits generated from Russian assets, which they are ready to discuss after a G7 leaders' summit later in June.

Twelve EU countries push for key next step in Ukraine, Moldova accession process

Est. 3min

A dozen EU member states have made a joint push to move forward the accession process for candidates Ukraine and Moldova and formally kickstart membership talks by the end of June, according to a letter to the Belgian EU presidency, seen by Euractiv.

02-06-2024

Zelenskyy meets heads of state in Singapore, seeks support for security summit

Est. 3min

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy met heads of state and legislators in Singapore, seeking security assistance and support for a peace summit after arriving for a surprise visit to the Shangri-La Dialogue.

31-05-2024

Ukraine signs security deal with Sweden, Norway, Iceland

Est. 4min

During a visit to Stockholm for a summit with Nordic leaders on Friday (31 May), Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed security deals with Swedish, Norwegian, and Icelandic prime ministers, while insisting on the need for his country to obtain certain military equipment such as the American Patriot defence system.

31-05-2024

Georgia’s ruling party intensifies disinformation tactics amid ‘foreign agent’ law standoff

Est. 8min

As thousands of Georgians are protesting their country's shift towards an anti-Western policy and the adoption of Russian-style laws, the ruling Georgian Dream government has ramped up its disinformation tactics. Despite calls from the West and the biggest protests since …

Armenia 31-05-2024

How Armenia fights disinformation amidst a security crisis

Est. 5min

Against a backdrop of hybrid warfare and continuous security crises, Armenian civil society is striving to institutionalise mechanisms to combat disinformation.

China 31-05-2024

China will not join Swiss peace conference on Ukraine, sources say

Est. 2min

China has confirmed it will not attend a Ukraine peace conference to be hosted by Switzerland next month, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Global Europe 31-05-2024

Biden allows Ukraine limited use of US arms to strike inside Russia, say US officials

Est. 4min

President Joe Biden has quietly authorized Kyiv to launch US-supplied weapons at military targets inside Russia that are supporting an offensive against the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, four US officials said on Thursday (30 May).

Energy 31-05-2024

Ukrainian ‘ecocide app’ calculates Russia’s bill for environmental damage

Est. 5min

Ukraine’s environment has been the “silent victim” of the Russian invasion, according to Ukrainian environment minister Ruslan Strilets, but thanks to app-wielding Ukrainian citizens, he can now put a price on the damage – more than €56 billion so far.

Global Europe 30-05-2024

France to host US President Joe Biden for first state visit in June

Est. 3min

US President Joe Biden will make his first state visit to France next Saturday (8 June) for a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy but also for talks with his host, Emmanuel Macron, on bilateral and global issues, including the war in Ukraine.

Azerbaijan 30-05-2024

Azerbaijan’s civil society crackdown intensifies ahead of COP29

Est. 5min

As Baku prepares to host COP29, the largest international climate summit, the Azerbaijani government has ramped up its crackdown on the remaining vestiges of its civil society.

China 30-05-2024

China could arrange Russia-Ukraine peace conference, Lavrov says

Est. 2min

China could arrange a peace conference in which Russia and Ukraine would participate, the RIA news agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Thursday (30 May).

NATO must look at containment strategy towards Russia, beyond ad hoc solutions, Czech FM Lipavský says

Est. 4min

Europe should have a containment strategy towards Russia, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský told Euractiv as his country prepares to host NATO foreign ministers on Thursday (30 May) to work on a new kind of support package for Ukraine.

Belarus 29-05-2024

How and why Belarus differs from the EU in talking about LGBTQ+

Est. 5min

Belarus has taken extraordinary steps to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people this year as it finds itself excluded from the democratic world and is taking lessons from its much larger Russian neighbour.

Global Europe 29-05-2024

Ukraine to receive F-16s ‘very soon’ but much aid arriving late, defence minister says

Est. 4min

Ukraine will receive its first supplies of F-16 fighter jets "very soon", but around half of its desperately needed foreign military aid is arriving late, Kyiv's defence minister has said.

28-05-2024

EU ‘considers all options’ as Georgia’s parliament votes through controversial ‘foreign agent’ law

Est. 4min

Georgia's parliament on Tuesday (28 May) overruled a presidential veto and adopted its controversial 'foreign agent' law, which had sparked weeks of mass demonstrations and international condemnation.