Eastern Europe / News
Ukrainian pilot wanted for treason dodges jail by going to space on Russian rocket
A Ukrainian military pilot convicted of high treason has re-emerged in Earth’s orbit – rather than behind bars – after securing a spot aboard a Russian space mission.
Belarus now ‘untouchable’ under Russia’s nuclear umbrella
President Lukashenko says the new Union State security treaty guarantees Belarus “absolute security,” citing its alliance with nuclear-armed Russia as a strong deterrent against any potential foreign aggression.
Iran FM to visit Russia ahead of second round of US talks
Russia is heavily invested in Iran's nuclear programme, including removing spent fuel as part of the original 2015 nuclear agreement.
UPDATE: Hungary blocks EU sanctions on Serbia's deputy PM
Vulin claims Hungary and Slovakia have blocked EU sanctions on him after he made a series of controversial remarks in the European Parliament earlier this week.
Russia to launch online marriage register to help women catch cheaters
Conservative lawmakers and Orthodox activists in Russia are advocating the creation of a national registry of married citizens, to be made accessible through the government’s digital platform Gosuslugi.
Gazprom abandons Bolivia's Azero project after 16 years of unfulfilled promises
Gazprom, Russia's state-owned gas giant, has withdrawn from the Azero gas exploration project in Bolivia, ending a 16-year energy venture once heralded as a cornerstone of Moscow's expanding influence in Latin America.
Trump’s and Putin’s men to talk Ukraine in Istanbul on April 10
The US and Russian delegations will on April 10 hold their next meeting in Istanbul, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on April 8. The meeting will be launched at 10h Istanbul time in Russia’s consulate.
Lukashenko gifts Putin with foiled 580kg high explosives terrorist attack
Belarusian authorities intercepted a van carrying 580kg of the high explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), believed to be of US origin, at the Belarus-Poland border, the State Customs Committee of Belarus reported on April 2.
Russia’s Alrosa cuts record-breaking 200 carat diamond
Russian diamond producer Alrosa showcased the largest diamond ever cut in the country’s history – a 100-carat vivid yellow gem named “New Sun” – on April 4.
Kremlin envoy Dmitriev says “significant progress” made in talks during Washington trip
Russia and the US have made significant progress in discussing a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO and Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev said during a visit to Washington on April 3.
Russian women are marrying soldiers with the aim of claiming a HUGE fortune if they die at war
A viral podcast clip has ignited a political and social firestorm in Russia after a real estate agent openly claimed that Russian women are securing financial stability by marrying men deployed to Ukraine.
Russia, Cuba, Belarus and North Korea exempted from tariffs as already sanctioned
US President Donald Trump dropped a tariffs bomb on the whole world on “Liberation Day” by imposing sanctions on every country the US trades with – with a very few notable exceptions: Russia, Cuba, Belarus and North Korea.
Russia rushes Iran partnership treaty ratification ahead of US military build-up against Tehran
Russia expedites defence pact with Iran ahead of US military manoeuvres in the Indian Ocean.
Trump threatens extreme secondary sanctions on countries dealing with Russia if Putin doesn’t do ceasefire deal
President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a sweeping bipartisan bill that could impose 500% secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t do a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.
Russian cult leader nabbed in Argentine human-trafficking swoop
Argentine authorities have dismantled a notorious Russian cult, arresting 15 individuals in a joint operation across two airports that has exposed a sinister network of alleged human exploitation.
Separatist Bosnian Serb leader Dodik meets with Putin to seek support
Dodik met with allies in Serbia, Israel and now Russia after Bosnian authorities issued a warrant for his arrest.
Russia offers to mediate US-Iran dialogue on nuclear programme
Russia has expressed willingness to facilitate constructive dialogue between the United States and Iran regarding the latter's nuclear programme
COMMENT: Lukashenko’s reshuffle tightens Belarus’ economic control
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed his prime minister and the head of the central bank, marking the latest stage in a year-long overhaul of the country’s leadership
Lukashenko roasts his officials over soaring price of potatoes
Potato prices have jumped by 10% over just the past two months, and an irate Lukashenko expressed his frustration at the authorities’ inability to maintain stable prices for staple goods.
US Defence Secretary Hegseth downgrades Russian threat, focus exclusively on Taiwan in new foreign policy strategy
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has reoriented the US military to prioritise deterring China’s seizure of Taiwan and shoring up homeland defence, but has downgraded Russia to a second tier, along with several other potential enemies.