Eastern Europe / News
Kyiv hit by massive Russian airstrike hours after prisoner swap
Kyiv was struck by a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack early on May 23, just hours after Ukraine and Russia conducted their first prisoner exchange in nearly five months.
Brazil dismantles Russian 'spy factory' in major counterintelligence operation, NYT reports
Brazilian federal agents have exposed a sophisticated Russian intelligence operation that used the South American country as an "assembly line for deep-cover operatives."
Putin orders creation of buffer zone along Ukrainian border
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a buffer zone to be set up along the border with Ukraine on May 22.
Intense Ukrainian drone attacks drive civilian flights out of southern Russian skies
Ukraine has launched some of its biggest ever drone attacks on Russia, which caused disruptions to civil aviation across the country on May 22.
The EU prepares a Plan B to sidestep Hungary's veto of Ukraine's accession bid
Brussels is preparing Plan B to side step Hungary’s veto of Ukraine’ accession to the EU, European Pravda reported on May 21. The initial legal steps have already been taken, though they remain undisclosed, according to multiple EU sources.
Turkmen labour migrants turning elsewhere as Turkey is less welcoming
Uzbekistan and Belarus new, hot destinations.
Russian authorities release Green Admire tanker after seizure near an Estonian port
The Liberian-flagged tanker Green Admire, detained by Russian authorities on May 18 after departing the Estonian port of Sillamae, has been released and is now en route to its original destination, Rotterdam.
Military tensions rising as France deploys naval ship in the Baltic Sea for first time to monitor Russian shadow tankers
For the first time, the French Navy has deployed the 101-meter-long intelligence ship Dupuy de Lôme to the Baltic Sea to monitor Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers.
US-sanctioned ex-Ukrainian MP shot dead near Madrid
Andriy Portnov, a former Ukrainian lawmaker sanctioned by the United States and a senior aide to ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead outside Madrid, a Spanish police source told Agence France-Presse on May 15.
EU approves seventeenth sanctions package
The European Union approved the seventeenth package of sanctions against Russia on May 20, further tightening restrictions in response to Moscow’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
Serbia negotiates new long-term gas deal with Russia
Serbia has increased efforts to diversify its energy sources but remains heavily dependent on Russian gas.
Tensions in the Baltic Sea: Russia detains oil tanker that left Estonian port
Russian authorities detained a Greek-owned oil tanker, Green Admire, on May 18 after it departed from Estonia’s Port of Sillamae en route to Rotterdam, and was transiting Russia’s territorial waters along a previously agreed shipping corridor.
European leaders in Tirana for EPC summit amid “relentless attacks” on international order
European leaders focus on continent's mounting challenges: Russia’s war in Ukraine, economic security and democratic resilience.
Russo-Ukraine Istanbul ceasefire talks break up without result
The first direct meeting between the Kremlin and Bankova for negotiations since the start of the war in Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16 ended in failure with little progress being made.
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Brazil and Russia edge closer on nuclear deal
Brazil and Russia are expected to advance cooperation on small modular reactor (SMR) technology, Brazil’s Minister of Energy Alexandre Silveira said after a visit to Moscow with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Putin slaps Zelenskiy in the face, skipping the Istanbul meeting, sending a low-level delegation in his place
Russian president Vladimir Putin was a no-show at direct talks he proposed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and sent a low-level delegation instead that didn't include a single minister, in what has been called a “slap in the face”.
Lula presses Putin to attend Ukraine peace talks as Russian leader sends deputies instead
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva joined the chorus of voices piling pressure on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to personally attend proposed peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, but to no avail.
China's SWM to launch auto plant in Turkey
BYD's sales of zero-tariff Chinese EVs on Turkish market are, meanwhile, booming.
EBRD2025: France pledges €10mn to repair Chernobyl shelter after drone strike
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has secured a €10mn ($10.8mn) contribution from France to help fund emergency repairs to the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure at the Chernobyl (Chornobyl) nuclear power plant.
Russia eyes deeper coal partnership with India amid long-term supply plans
Russia’s coal reserves are sufficient to meet domestic demand for over 500 years, and the country sees significant scope for deepening cooperation with India in the coal sector.