Eastern Europe / News

Argentina breaks with Ukraine support at UN, echoing Trump's pro-Russia shift

Mathew Cohen February 27, 2025

Argentina’s decision to abstain from a United Nations vote on an EU-sponsored resolution urging Russia to withdraw from Ukraine has sparked widespread criticism.

Russian official admits that rural Russian schools are in a worse state than war-damaged Ukraine

bne IntelliNews February 27, 2025

A Russian official has admitted that rural schools in Tatarstan are in worse condition than those in war-damaged, Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine.

Trump lays out harsh terms for US support for Ukraine at his first Cabinet meeting

Ben Aris in Berlin February 27, 2025

Some more clarity emerged on the US plans for Ukraine as US President Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting. The terms are harsh, shifting the bulk of the burden to Europe.

Brazil hosts first BRICS Sherpas meeting with expanded membership

bnl Sao Paulo bureau February 27, 2025

Brasilia hosted the first BRICS Sherpas meeting under the Brazilian Presidency on February 24-25, bringing together representatives from all 11 member countries at the Itamaraty Palace.

Hungary seeks to remove three Russian oligarchs from EU sanctions list, reports RFE/RL

bne IntelliNews February 26, 2025

The Russian investigative unit of Radio Free Europe, Systema, has published the names of Russian individuals Hungary seeks to remove from the EU sanctions list.

Bosnia’s Serb entity rejects authority of state-level institutions

bne IntelliNews February 26, 2025

Republika Srpska's parliament takes steps towards secession after the conviction of its president, Milorad Dodik.

Invasion of Ukraine has made life worse, Russians admit

bne IntelliNews February 25, 2025

More than half of Russians believe the ongoing war in Ukraine has negatively affected their daily lives, according to a new survey by the independent research project Chronicles.

Ukraine agrees to a revised US mineral deal offer

Ben Aris in Berlin February 25, 2025

Ukraine has agreed to sign off on a third version of a minerals deal with the US after Washington softened the terms, the Financial Times reported on February 25.

Is Iran being offered as a bargaining chip in Russia-US negotiations?

bnm Tehran bureau February 25, 2025

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conducted a swift but significant six-hour visit to Tehran on February 25, meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Rosneft overtakes ExxonMobil to take fourth slot in global energy ranking

bne IntelliNews February 25, 2025

Russia’s biggest state-owned oil major Rosneft has overtaken ExxonMobil to take the fourth slot in the Energy Intelligence Top 100: Global NOC and IOC Rankings.

Renault must pay $1.3bn if it wants to re-enter Russian market

Ben Aris in Berlin February 25, 2025

French carmaker Renault must repay at least RUB112.5bn ($1.3bn) of the money invested by its Russian partner AvtoVAZ in the joint venture during its absence, AvtoVAZ president Maxim Sokolov said on February 25.

Lavrov in Tehran to discuss Trump sanctions and nuclear programme

bnm Tehran bureau February 25, 2025

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Tehran on February 25, holding a private meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Serbian president says he backed UN resolution on Ukraine by mistake

Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade February 25, 2025

President Aleksandar Vucic publicly apologised to Serbian citizens, and blamed "personal fatigue" for his vote in favour of a UN resolution calling for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Putin offers Trump joint rare earth metals exploration projects

bne IntelliNews February 25, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed joint exploration of Russia’s rare earth metals deposits and the supply of aluminium to the US market as part of a potential economic agreement, Reuters reported on February 25.

Tokyo appeals for G7 unity over Ukraine

bno - Taipei Bureau February 25, 2025

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has urged his fellow leaders from the Group of Seven nations to remain united in their efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.

EU expands oil and gas sanctions in 16th package

Newsbase February 24, 2025

The EU has imposed additional measures against Russia’s oil and gas industry as part of its 16th sanctions package, while stopping short of any further restrictions on the bloc’s purchase of Russian LNG.

US sides with Russia in voting against a Ukraine-sponsored UN resolution to condemn the war on its third anniversary

bne IntelliNews February 24, 2025

The US voted with Russia and its allies against a resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing conflict on February 24 as the Western unity to support Kyiv in its struggle continues to crumble.

President Zelenskiy says he is willing to quit if Ukraine gets security guarantees, Nato membership

bne IntelliNews February 24, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he'd be ready to give up presidency if it brought peace, Nato membership and genuine security guarantees for Ukraine.

Russia's Rosatom in talks to build new nuclear power plant in Iran

Newsbase MENA syndication February 23, 2025

Russian state-run atomic energy giant Rosatom is in talks to construct another nuclear power plant (NPP) in Iran, the company’s chief said.

Putin opens the door to the return of Western business to Russia

Ben Aris in Berlin February 22, 2025

President Vladimir Putin has opened the door to Western companies’ return to the Russian market, but only on the Kremlin’s terms and only after sanctions are lifted, the Russian president said on February 21.

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