Ukraine
President Zelenskiy fires Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi following months of rumours of discontent
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the leader of the country’s Armed Forces, Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, appointing General Oleksandr Syrskyi as his replacement.
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Russia reports a painful RUB308bn deficit in January, but nowhere near as bad as the RUB1.7 trillion deficit in January 2023
When the January 2023 Russian federal budget deficit numbers came out this week a year ago a collective cheer went up from Western analysts: they were disastrous.
OFAC “smart sanctions” target turbine lubricants and additives in an effort to stop Russian military production
Two days before Christmas the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) quietly released new sanctions on an esoteric product group: turbine lubricants. But these "smart sanctions" could bring Russian industry to a standstill.
Georgia says it seized explosives sent from Ukraine and destined for Russia
The Georgian government has consistently accused Kiev of attempting to draw Georgia into its conflict with Russia.
The EU joins the global transport competition, proposes a Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor
The global pandemic, the war in Ukraine, rising tensions between China and the West and the increasingly fractured world has forced the global economy to remake its major transport routes. Now the EU is getting in on the game.
Yandex N.V. leaves Russia in largest corporate exit since the start of the Ukraine war
One of the longest-running corporate sagas in Russia is finally coming to an end. Yandex N.V. – the Dutch parent of Russia’s biggest internet company –announced its exit from the Russian market on February 5.
Ukraine’s conflict enters a third phase: the drone war
In the first months of the war in Ukraine it was the highly mobile hit-and-run teams wielding the US-made shoulder-launched Javelin tank-killers that dominated the fighting.
Ukraine uses satellite guided naval drone to hit and destroy Russian missile corvette, the Ivanovets in a modern warfare first
For the first time ever, a satellite guided Ukrainian naval drone hit and destroyed the Russian missile corvette, the Ivanovets, in the Black Sea near the Crimea on February 1.
VISEGRAD BLOG: Orban folds after EU leaders call his bluff
The European Council Summit this week was a comprehensive defeat for Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban.
Orban tries to save face after EU summit
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was given assurances that the question of Budapest's blocked funds, around €22bn, would be handled impartially.
Ukraine’s bought some breathing space after EU signs off on €50bn support package
All 27 leaders of EU member states agreed on an additional €50bn support package for the so-called Ukraine Facility within the EU budget, European Council President Charles Michel announced on February 1.
Russia oil product exports fall by a third due to Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries
Russia is increasingly struggling to maintain the export of oil products after at least half a dozen long-distance Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries caused fires causing temporary halts in production at facilities across western Russia.
Orban backs down again and lets Ukraine aid go ahead
The Hungarian strongman had come under huge pressure since he vetoed the EU package at a summit before Christmas.
EU to renew Ukraine’s trade access, but introduces an agricultural “safety brake”
The European Commission intends to extend Ukraine’s access to EU markets at the summit this week but will introduce restrictions on some key agricultural products to protect members state’s domestic markets, UBN reported on January 31.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Russian wheat importer Turkey becomes a wheat exporter
Curious development comes in a week where US senators ponder how oil products from Russia, exported via a shady Turkish terminal, ended up in American warships.
Ukraine hits historic high in Transparency International annual Corruption Perceptions Index, up three points to 36 out of 100
Ukraine reached a historic high in Transparency International annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 2023, improving its score by three points to reach 36 out of a possible 100.
Orban set to compromise on EU's Ukraine financing deal
Amid both threats and signs of flexibility from the EU, the Hungarian premier is expected to drop his veto of the €50bn package.
Is this the last year of Russian gas transit via Ukraine?
Ukraine has insisted it has no intention of renewing its gas transit contract with Russia that is due to expire at the end of this year.
wiiw projects brighter 2024 for Emerging Europe
Vienna-based think-tank expects growth to get back on track this year, but warns of risks from a Trump victory in the US and escalation of fighting in Ukraine or Gaza.
EU denies blackmail of Hungary as Budapest indicates potential compromise
EU source claims reported threat to freeze aid to Hungary indefinitely was only 'background material'.