The two developments are viewed as a direct challenge to the delicate geopolitical balance that Serbia’s Vučić has spent more than a decade crafting, whereby he has signaled approval of Western values and EU policies while also maintaining strong ties with Russia and China. “We love Moscow and Washington, and everyone in the world, but … Read more
After years of tension with the previous Conservative government over human rights and security concerns, Reeves has political space to take a different, more business-like approach to Beijing and try and tap China’s vast market for economic benefits. “Everything the Tories did on foreign policy was about backbench management,” said a U.K. government official, who, like … Read more
Europe’s next national leader looks likely to come from the far right. With Herbert Kickl in pole position to become chancellor of Austria, the European Union’s establishment is bracing for fresh torment ― and another punch in the guts in its stand against Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Kickl, who would become Austria’s first far-right leader since … Read more
Apartment buildings and business across the region have been left without heating and hot water as a result of the shut-off, with residents told to insulate their homes as temperatures drop to below zero degrees Celsius According to the letter, signed by Tiraspoltransgaz director Igor Lisachenko, Moldova’s Moldovagaz offered to facilitate “the purchase of gas … Read more
Speaking to POLITICO, Moldova’s national security advisor, Stanislav Secrieru, accused Russia of “weaponizing” its energy exports “to destabilize Moldova economically and socially, weaken the pro-reform government ahead of the elections, and manufacture political demand for the return of pro-Russian forces to power.” According to Secrieru, Moldova — which has been an ardent supporter of Ukraine … Read more
“Halting gas transit via Ukraine will have a drastic impact on us all in the EU — but not on the Russian Federation,” Slovak Prime Minister Fico said in a New Year’s address posted on social media. Fico — who is friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meeting him in Moscow in a surprise visit over … Read more
Meanwhile, Kyiv could replace the lost power with imports from Romania and Poland, Galushchenko said. Warsaw has already offered its support in case of a cutoff. If “the goal [is] to make Ukraine [in] pain,” he said, “it doesn’t work in this situation.” Slovakia and Hungary, led by the Russia-friendly Fico and Viktor Orbán, have … Read more
Putin said the airliner was attempting to land in Grozny amid Ukrainian drone attacks in the area. “Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks,” he added. The Azerbaijani president added that “some circles” in Russia had attempted to cover up the true nature of the plane crash by suggesting it was caused by a flock … Read more
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is threatening retaliatory measures against Ukraine if Kyiv stops Russian gas transit to Slovakia as of Jan. 1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week said his government “would not prolong the transit of Russian gas” once the current contract expires at the end of this year. Zelenskyy accused Fico of … Read more
The unannounced pre-Christmas meeting between Fico and Putin was reported at the time as an attempt by the Slovak leader to find a way around Kyiv’s refusal to extend Russian gas deliveries to Bratislava following the expiry of an existing contract at the end of 2024. No mention was then made of brokering peace talks, … Read more
