Eastern Europe / News
Lukewarm support for Polish UN vote condemning Russian drone incursion
Only 46 out of 193 UN member states signed a joint UN declaration on September 12, denouncing Russia’s alleged involvement in a drone incursion into Polish airspace two days earlier.
Kremlin puts Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks on hold
Negotiation channels between Russia and Ukraine remain formally open but the Kremlin has put talks on hold, as prospects for renewed diplomatic engagement appear remote. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Russia’s $0.5bn anti-drone defence market second only to US
Russia ranked second globally in the anti-drone systems market in 2024, according to RBC business portal citing estimates of SK Capital, part of the state development bank VEB.RF.
Russia's Zapad -2025 military exercises are a show of strength as military tensions in Europe rise
The joint Russia and Belarus military exercises get underway on September 12 that will be closely watched by Nato analysts to gauge how strong Russia’s military has become after more than three years of war.
#BREAKING: Belarus releases another 52 prisoners after talks with US
Belarus has released another 52 prisoners following negotiations with the US , with President Alexander Lukashenko granting pardons on what state media described as humanitarian grounds, the BelTA news agency reported on September 11.
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#UPDATE: US lifts sanctions on Belarusian Belavia airline
The United States has lifted sanctions on Belarus’s state-owned airline Belavia, US Presidential Representative John Cole announced during a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
Hungarian foreign minister fails to condemn Russian drone attack during Belarus visit
Peter Szijjarto avoided blaming Russia for drones crossing Polish airspace and causing damage, a stance in line with Budapest’s longstanding reluctance to confront Moscow directly.
Von der Leyen pledges unwavering support for Ukraine, unveils competitiveness reforms in EC state of the Union speech
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her annual EU State of the Union address on September 10 to reaffirm the bloc’s commitment to Ukraine, signal a tougher stance on Israeli settler violence, and outline reform
Poland to invoke Nato’s article 4 after Russian drones’ incursion into Polish airspace
PM Donald Tusk says overnight incursions were "incomparably more dangerous" than previous incidents since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Trump urges EU to hit China, India with 100% tariffs
US President Donald Trump called for the EU to hit China and India with tariffs of up to 100% on imports in an effort to force Moscow to end its war in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on September 8.
Poland shoots down Russian drones after airspace breach, authorities say
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was in “constant contact" with the defence ministry and President Karol Nawrocki.
UPDATED: Poland scrambles jets, shuts airports as Russia accused of drone incursions
Poland has scrambled fighter aircraft and temporarily shut its main airports after reports that Russian drones entered its airspace during overnight strikes on Ukraine.
Xi and Putin to join BRICS emergency talks on US trade measures
Brazil's President Lula rallies leaders from emerging economies for a virtual meeting to find a coordinated response to aggressive US trade measures.
Russia plans to double missile production to 2,500 a year, increases drone output to 2,700 a month
Russia plans to double its missile production to 2,500 a year and can already produce 2,700 drones a month, according to Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence.
The US imported $455,000 worth of Russian chicken eggs for the first time 1992 despite sanctions
The US imported $455,000 worth of Russian chicken eggs for the first time in decades despite sanctions, RIA Novosti reported on September 5, citing data from the US statistical service.
Putin warns that coalition of the willing peacekeepers in Ukraine are "legitimate targets"
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that if Ukraine’s European allies send peacekeepers to Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Russia (AFR) will consider them to be “legitimate military targets,” in comments at the Eastern Economic Forum.
US to draw back from Asia in new defence policy concept
The United States is scaling back its strategic focus on Asia, marking a potential end to over a decade of military and political efforts to counterbalance China’s rise in the region, Politico reports.
Slovakia’s Fico meets Ukraine’s Zelenskiy and delivers a message from Putin, opening indirect talks between the two presidents
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Uzhgorod, close to the Slovak-Ukrainian border, on September 5 and delivered a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin in what could be an indirect approach.
Washington signals end to military aid for Russia’s neighbours, Baltics to feel brunt
Word of planned move comes in same week Donald Trump committed to keeping US forces in Poland.