Eastern Europe / News
Russia’s HIV crisis accelerates due to wartime strains
Russia’s HIV epidemic, already severe before the invasion of Ukraine, has worsened dramatically under the pressures of war, with health authorities now facing what may become one of the country’s gravest long-term demographic crises.
Hungary holds trilateral talks on construction of new oil pipeline to Serbia with Russia
Hungary and Serbia are moving ahead with plans to build a new cross-border oil pipeline that could transport up to 5mn tonnes per year of crude, as both countries deepen energy ties with Russia despite EU sanctions.
Serbia facilitated arms transit to Ukraine despite Russian warnings
Serbia continued to permit arms shipments destined for Ukraine to transit its territory even after receiving direct warnings from Moscow, according to a BIRN investigation.
Zelenskiy faces EU backlash over bill that guts Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts
The mood has shifted fast as European leaders lined up to criticise, albeit in mild tones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s decision to sign into law a controversial bill rammed through the Rada on July 23.
Kyiv sees first anti-government wartime protests as Zelenskiy attempts to gut anti-corruption bodies
Ukrainian lawmakers forced through a controversial law giving unlimited power to the general prosecutor that civil rights groups say will gut Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms, sparking anti-government protests.
Breakthrough moment for Trans-Afghan Railway project hailed by Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Three countries agree to prepare feasibility study. Russia too would benefit from infrastructure linking Central Asia to Arabian Sea coast.
Ukraine’s key logistical hub of Pokrovsk falls to Russian forces
Ukraine’s key logistic hub of Pokrovsk has fallen to the Armed Forces of Russia (AFR) after more than a year of fighting marking a major strategic defeat for Kyiv. Russian forces have entered the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
Ukraine’s NGOs up in arms over a new law that guts anti-corruption reforms
Ukraine’s NGOs are up in arms over a new law No. 12414 passed on July 22, which they say will destroy Ukraine's anticorruption reforms.
EU approves eighteenth sanctions package after Slovakia drops veto
The EU has approved the eighteenth sanctions package after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico agreed to drop his veto, saying that he had run out of negotiating options on July 18.
Iranian ambassador confirms Russia-Iran partnership treaty has entered into force
A comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between Iran and Russia has entered into force and is "binding for implementation," creating stronger ties between the two sanctioned countries.
Zelenskiy offers Trump a mega drones-for-weapons deal, as allies scramble to find spare Patriot systems
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy offered US President Donald Trump a “mega-deal” on July 17: we send you our advanced drones, you send us missiles.
Fico claims Slovakia has obtained energy guarantees from EU and will unblock latest sanctions package against Russia
Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico said it would be "counterproductive" to continue blocking the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia.
Central Asia wary Russia will turn on ruble “printing press” to cope with cooling economy, say experts
If Russian economy slips into recession a consequent fall in migrant remittances would particularly hit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Ukrainian ambassador summoned in Budapest over church arson case
Ukrainian nationalists blamed for arson attack on a Greek Catholic church in Ukraine's western Transcarpathian region — but similar provocations were traced back to Russian operatives.
Russian Railways to propose more tariff changes
State rail operator Russian Railways (RZD) plans to revise freight tariffs, proposing a rebalancing that would raise rates on raw materials and fuel while cutting them for finished metal products
Poland the biggest winner from EU’s €2 trillion long-term budget, Ukraine to get €100bn
EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin unveiled the largest ever EU long-term €2 trillion budget that covers 2028-2034 in Brussels on July 16.
Svyrydenko appointed as new Ukrainian Prime Minister
Ukraine’s parliament appointed Yuliia Svyrydenko as the country’s new prime minister on July 17, marking the most significant reshuffle of the government since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Four EU countries bail out of paying for Trump’s weapons for Ukraine
At least four countries are already bailing out of commitments to pay the US for weapons supplies for Ukraine, raising a question mark over the level of support Ukraine can expect now that the Trump administration has withdrawn.
COMMENT: Slovakia’ Prime Minister pushes back on EU gas phase-out, demands a delay to the sanctions as EU cracks widen
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is becoming a major embarrassment for the EU plans to phase out all Russian gas imports by 2028.
Hungarian farmers dump manure at EU headquarters in protest at planned cuts in CAP funds
Hungarian farmers dumped piles of manure in front of the EU’s headquarters in central Budapest in protest at the European Commission’s plans to overhaul the Common Agricultural Policy from 2028, leading to cuts in agricultural subsidies.