Eastern Europe / News
Lula-Zelensky meeting falls through again at troubled G7 summit
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva departed the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, on June 17 without holding a planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite Kyiv’s request for bilateral talks.
Hungary to veto 'von der Leyen-Zelenskiy energy plan' over Russian import restrictions, foreign minister says
The European Commission is set to unveil a June 17 that would legally prohibit imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas into the European Union by the end of 2027.
Thousands of Russian tourists stranded in UAE due to regional tensions
More than 10,000 Russian tourists and business travellers have been affected by flight cancellations and delays in the UAE due to the Israel-Iran conflict, with at least 2,000 people currently stranded in the Persian Gulf country.
US resists EU and UK push to cut Russian oil price cap at G7 summit
The US is resisting calls from European governments to reduce the G7 price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, frustrating efforts by the EU and UK to increase financial pressure on Moscow as leaders meet for a G7 in Canada.
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Slovak PM Fico wants EU leaders to postpone vote on new sanctions against Russia
Fico had previously criticised the plan to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027, which the EU introduced last month.
Europe’s defence needs to adapt to different US, Czech President Pavel says
Europe must be able to defend its own interests "without active American support if necessary", Petr Pavel tells the Globsec security forum.
Israeli embassies worldwide suspend operations
Israeli diplomatic missions globally have suspended operations amid the ongoing Israeli military operation against Iran which has killed nearly 80 people.
Hungarian pro-government security analyst allegedly linked to Russian intelligence
Georg Spottle, a German-Hungarian security policy commentator frequently featured in Hungarian pro-government media, has reportedly maintained contact with Russian intelligence operatives.
Ukraine’s “enemies database” adds foreign leaders over Moscow ties
A Ukrainian website that catalogues perceived "enemies of Ukraine" has added several prominent Russia-friendly foreign leaders to its database, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Serbia's Vucic makes surprise visit to Ukraine
The visit risks aggravating already tense relations with Moscow, after Russian intelligence scolded Serbia for supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Zelenskiy says Orban making "historic mistake" on Ukraine war in first interview with Hungarian press
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of launching a direct attack on Hungary, after the Ukrainian leader gave his first interview to the Hungarian press since Russia's full-scale invasion began.
Ukrainian refugees fuelled Polish economy with €16bn boost in 2024
The study by consultancy Deloitte for UNHCR found that nearly 70% of working-age Ukrainians in Poland now have jobs, just shy of the 75% employment rate among locals.
Russia bringing in de facto visa regime for Central Asia nationals, say critics
Rights campaigners, meanwhile, hit out at digital controls on migrants in country that they say will be used to corner people into joining armed forces.
Ukraine and Russia trade missile and drone attacks as the war enters a new phase
Russian rockets and drones rained down on cities across Ukraine over the weekend of June 7, targeting, amongst other things, a children’s railway park. Dozens were killed and more injured.
Kyrgyzstan takes down tallest statue of Lenin
Monument in Osh replaced with a flagpole. Officials move quickly to explain why Moscow should not be offended.
Slovak parliament passes resolution against anti-Russian sanctions after opposition boycott backfires
The Slovak parliament has passed a resolution urging members of the populist left-right cabinet of Robert Fico not to vote against new sanctions directed against Russia.
Ukraine defaults on $2.6bn GDP warrants as restructuring talks stall
Ukraine has defaulted on $2.6bn worth of sovereign debt after opting not to make payments due June 2 on GDP-linked warrants, the country’s finance ministry confirmed, citing the need to prioritise broader economic stability and recovery.
Russian farmers ask Putin to deal with Kazakh antelope invasion
Half a million saiga have crossed border. Protected animals are devastating crops and polluting water supplies.
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb destroyed fewer Russian bombers than claimed
Ukraine’s spectacular Operation Spiderweb on June 1 destroyed fewer Russian strategic bombers than Kyiv first claimed, according to satellite evidence released by the US firm Maxar.
EU selects 13 global strategic raw materials projects to boost supply security
European Commission publishes list with projects in Emerging Europe, Central Asia, Africa and elsewhere as bloc strives to reduce dependency on a handful of global suppliers.