Russia
EU Ukraine fatigue growing - Kallas
The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that the bloc is bearing an increasingly heavy and lonely burden in sustaining support for Ukraine, even as Brussels moves urgently to unlock a €90bn EU loan for Ukraine.
Hungary’s new leader unlikely to shift EU stance on Russia and Ukraine dramatically
Expectations that Budapest will pivot sharply away from Russia and back a more assertive European Union policy on Ukraine post-election may prove misplaced, says commentary by Carnegie Politika.
Russian state agency warns Hungary's incoming government against reviewing Paks nuclear deal
Russian state agency RIA Novosti has warned Hungary's incoming Tisza government against reviewing the Paks 2 nuclear deal, saying Magyar's criticism of the €14.7bn ($16.69bn) cost is "self-promotion and informational noise."
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Russian Duma passes crypto regulation bill in first reading
Russia's State Duma has passed a crypto regulation bill in its first reading creating a legal framework for cross-border cryptocurrency settlements, with the legislation set to come into force on July 1 if approved.
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Russia expects resumption of Gulf diplomacy, Lavrov says
Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow expects positive news on the resumption of diplomatic efforts around Iran, offering to mediate between the Arab Gulf monarchies and Tehran on regional security.
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Putin says Russia "knows how it will end" in Ukraine but will not announce war goals publicly
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow knows how the war in Ukraine will end but will not make public statements on the outcome, telling municipal officials Russia will simply implement its goals.
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Russian computer gamers face payment and access after crackdown
Russian gamers are facing growing payment and access problems amid the government crackdown on circumvention tools like VPNs.
Is Russia’s virtual economy reappearing?
Is Russia’s virtual economy reappearing thanks to the sky high interest rates and economic slowdown?
Swedish intelligence says Russia disguises economic strain from war, sanctions - FT
Russia has been manipulating economic data to project resilience against wartime pressures and Western sanctions, while potentially misleading even President Vladimir Putin about the true state of the economy, according to Swedish intelligence.
Euro Nato plans and Article 42/7
Europe is drawing up plans for a new Nato without the US and will hold its first military exercises very soon to see how it works in practice. So far it is little more than a paper tiger.
Russia’s inflation fight faces push-me-pull-you pressures
Russia’s economy slowed in the first quarter of 2026 broadly as policymakers had anticipated, but the Central Bank of Russia now faces a more complex task as persistent domestic price pressures collide with fresh geopolitical risks abroad.
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Russian sabotage operations in Europe almost quadrupled in 2024, IISS says
Russian sabotage operations in Europe almost quadrupled from 2023 to 2024 according to IISS research, with submarine cables, legacy IT systems and underinvestment in critical infrastructure identified as key vulnerabilities.
New hardline security unit in charge of Russia’s VPN crackdown
The control of Russia’s internet, including the latest escalation of the war on VPNs, has reportedly shifted to the Federal Security Bureau’s (FSB) Second Service unit.
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Russia’s VK sells 25% in Tochka Bank to Potanin’s T-Technologies
Russia’s state-controlled internet major VK (VKCO) has sold its 25% stake in digital lender Tochka Bank to Interros.
Indonesia, US forge defence partnership
The MDCP is a clear signal that when it comes to regional deterrence and technological modernisation, Indonesia views the US as its primary partner, but it will continue to deal with Russia and China to ensure the lights stay on at home.
Russia publishes European address of Ukrainian drone-makers
Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of UAVs used in strikes against Russian territory.
IMF the first to improve Russia’s growth outlook on Iran war windfall
The International Monetary Fund has become the first institution to raise its forecast for Russia’s economic growth in 2026 in anticipation of the windfall it is expected to earn from the effects of the Iran war related spike in energy prices.
Ukraine seizes Russian position without using soldiers in a battlefield first
In a development that could reshape modern warfare, Ukrainian forces have, for the first time, captured a Russian position using only unmanned systems – a coordinated assault carried out entirely by drones and ground-based robots.
Germany rallies behind Ukraine as peace talks stall, EU membership debate divides the bloc
Germany has unveiled a sweeping €4bn military support package for Ukraine and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the rapid disbursement of a long-delayed €90bn EU loan to Kyiv, as European powers scramble to shore up Ukraine's defences.
IMF the first to improve Russia’s growth outlook on Iran war windfall
The International Monetary Fund has become the first institution to raise its forecast for Russia’s economic growth in 2026 in anticipation of the windfall it is expected to earn from the effects of the Iran war related spike in energy prices.