Eastern Europe / News
US Speaker Johnson releases preliminary details of a new $43bn Ukraine aid package
US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has released preliminary details of a new aid package for US allies that he says could be put to a vote this week.
UK, US ban trading in Russian aluminium, copper, nickel
The London Metal Exchange (LME) and Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) have blocked the trade of aluminium, copper and nickel produced by Russia, the UK government announced late on April 12.
Tajik foreign minister hits out at Russia’s apparent torturing of terrorism accused
"Use of torture in form of bodily mutilation unacceptable. Price of confessions extracted this way well known to everyone," says Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
Iran's attempt at a "Goldilocks retaliation" strike on Israel was designed to fail, but tensions remain high
Iran launched its first ever direct military attack on Israel on April 13 after decades of proxy war hostilities. As the dust settles the following morning, the attack seems to have failed with only seven missiles penetrating Israel’s defences.
Estonia’s interior minister set to classify Moscow Patriarchate church as terror organisation
Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets said he is set to propose to the country’s parliament Riigikogu that they declare the Moscow-based Orthodox Patriarchate a terrorist organisation.
Russia's military forces are 15% bigger than they were at start of war, says US intelligence
Russia is reconstituting its army far faster than initial estimates suggested, US Army General Christopher Cavoli, Nato's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, said in a statement on April 10.
Czech opposition tries to hold parliamentary session on PM’s financial affairs
Fiala had a holding in PDZ fund suspected of money laundering.
Ukraine's ammo crisis mounts on stalled US aid
General Christopher Cavoli, the top US commander in Europe, cautioned during a congressional hearing on April 10 that Ukraine is on the brink of running out of ammunition and air defence interceptor missiles.
100,000 forced from homes in Kazakhstan by “biblical” flooding linked to climate change
Rapid snowmelt amid sudden weather change, combined with heavy rains and already waterlogged ground prove a disastrous combination.
The EU is preparing a new, fourteenth package of sanctions
The EU is preparing a new fourteenth package of sanctions that is slated for adoption in the coming months, but is unlikely to introduce any new products and will focus mostly on enforcing the existing thirteen rounds of sanctions.
EBRD announces profit of €2.1bn in 2023
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a significant rebound in its financial performance, recording a robust profit of €2.1bn for the year 2023, up from losses of €1.1bn in 2022.
Kremlin tries to link Hunter Biden to financing of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall terrorist massacre
Russia’s Investigative Committee launched a criminal investigation into the financing of terrorism in Russia on April 9, with focus on a board of directors that included the son of US President Joe Biden.
Yakunin wins final appeal in drone flying over Svalbard legal saga
Norway’s Halogaland Court of Appeal concluded a legal saga surrounding British-Russian businessman Andrey Yakunin, the son of Russia’s sanctioned former head of Russian Railways, refusing the prosecution's appeal.
Russia sees rare protest after flooding devastates city
Residents of the Russian city of Orsk have taken to the streets to demand swift action and compensation following devastating flooding that has left the city submerged in water.
Court lifts EU sanctions on Russian billionaires Fridman and Aven
The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg has satisfied the lawsuit filed by Russian billionaires Petr Aven and Mikhail Fridman of Alfa Group.
Belarus the latest European country to suspend the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the suspension of Belarus’ participation in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) on April 5, as Belarus continues to militarise and keep its ties with Russia tight.
UK Foreign Minister Cameron meets with former US President Trump to appeal for aid to Ukraine
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron met with former US President Donald Trump on April 9 and told him that US continued support of Ukraine was “in US interests,” Ukrayinska Pravda reports.
French billionaire to acquire Ukrainian telecom businesses in one of country’s largest acquisitions
French billionaire Xavier Niel's investment company, NJJ Capital, is poised to make one of the largest acquisitions in Ukraine's history, with plans to acquire two major telecom businesses in the war-torn country.
Europe exits the winter heating season with record gas stocks
The EU has exited the heating season with a record volume of gas in storage, following another mild winter and as a result of reduced industrial demand and a concerted effort by policymakers to boost stockpiles.
Russia asks Kazakhstan for emergency fuel supply
Russia has requested that Kazakhstan be ready to provide it with 100,000 tonnes of gasoline in the event of shortages.