Eastern Europe / News
Lukashenko to stand for re-election as president in 2025
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, announced he will stand for re-election again in 2025, state media reported on February 25.
Ukraine's Zelenskiy seeks support from Southeast Europe at Tirana summit
Ukrainian president and Albanian prime minister warn of Russian threat to destabilise the region.
Russia’s Sberbank makes record $16bn profit in 2023
Russia’s largest state-controlled bank Sberbank (Sber) posted 5.5-fold year-on-year net IFRS profit jump to a record-high of RUB1.5 trillion ($16.3bn) and made a return on equity (ROE) of 25.3%.
Transnistrian politicians appeal to Russia for protection
Politicians in the Moldovan separatist republic of Transnistria called on Russia and the international community for help, accused Chisinau of "economic strangulation".
Czech plan reportedly secures 800,000 pieces of ammunition for Ukraine
Czechs use worldwide arms contacts to locate ammunition stocks which “for political reasons” the supplying countries won’t be able to deliver themselves.
British man arrested after illegally trying to cross Russian border to meet online fiancée
A lovestruck Brit was arrested on February 23 after attempting to illegally cross the border from Poland into Russia, where he wanted to meet a girl he had met online.
Kyrgyzstan: Where are all the autos going?
Country’s balance of trade heavily favours imports over exports.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy drops into Saudi in low profile visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Saudi Arabia on February 27 for discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Russia warns WWIII “inevitable” if West sends troops to Ukraine
The Kremlin warned that WWIII would become “inevitable” if Western countries sent troops to fight in Ukraine, "In that case, it’s not going to be about probability, but inevitability, " presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
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Macron says sending Nato ground troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out
French president says Russia now presents a greater danger and nothing should be excluded.
Belarus holds parliamentary elections, Tikhanovskaya hacks Minsk TV Billboards with protest message
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya embarrassed Belarusian President Lukashenko after hacking 2,000 giant TV billboards in Minsk and broadcasting an anti-war message on the day of sham Belarus parliamentary elections.
US claims sanctions success, says Russia’s financial flows with Turkey, UAE and Kazakhstan disrupted
Washington says secondary sanctions threat against financial firms has put “sand in the gears” of network used to help Kremlin get access to goods.
Navalny murdered to take his name out of play in a high profile prisoner swap deal
Opposition figure and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny was murdered ahead of a planned high profile prisoner swap, his supporters announced on February 26 to “take that bargaining chip off the table.”
EU release thirteenth sanctions packages on Russia
The EU has finally approved the thirteenth package of sanctions on the Russia, in what observers say are the weakest sanctions year.
Zelenskiy says 31,000 soldiers KIA in first ever comments on Ukraine’s casualty rate
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the conflict in the last two years, putting a figure on the death toll for the first time when speaking at the Year 2024 conference on February 25.
“Unbelievable but true” data show UK firms equipping Russia’s war machine
Kremlin is end-customer for surging flows of British exports to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Georgia, new analysis indicates.
Uzbekistan plans $500mn investment to boost Russian gas imports
Domestic production is declining as existing fields become exhausted.
Indications grow Turkey-Russia trade hit by tightened US sanctions
Turkish exports to Russia sank 30% in January. Turkey’s banks facilitating payments wary of being shut out of US financial system.
EU to lift sanctions on Yandex founder Volozh
EU countries have agreed to remove the sanctions from the founder of Russian internet major Yandex, Reuters reports citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Russia’s CBR shuts down major e-payment player Qiwi
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has revoked the banking licence of Qiwi Bank, operated by the e-payment system Qiwi, the regulator announced.