Ukraine
Warsaw-Kyiv relations hit new low as Nawrocki seeks to strip Zelenskiy of Poland’s highest honour
Rift after Kyiv named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which Poland accuses of genocide.
EU mulls freezing Russian oil sanctions as fuel shortage looms
The European Union is considering a temporary freeze on its Russian oil price cap mechanism as policymakers worry about a looming fuel shortage as a result of the Iran war disruptions.
Bulgaria the latest addition to the EU’s Excessive Deficit Club
Bulgaria has barely had time to celebrate joining the eurozone monetary union at the start of this year before the European Commission is set to turn around and throw it into the rapidly growing financial delinquents club.
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Russia's Dmitriev says Europe needs Russia to survive
Russia's Kirill Dmitriev said Europe needs Russia to survive amid an energy crisis, after Bloomberg reported the EU is weighing a temporary freeze of its $44.10 price cap on Russian oil over the Iran war.
Russian drone struck by Ukrainian air defences crashes into Romanian apartment block in Galati
Details are still emerging, but confusion reigned after what appears to be a Russian Geran-2 drone struck an apartment building in the Romanian city of Galati early on May 29 after being hit by Ukrainian air defences.
Business over principles: Ireland's aluminium business with Russia is flourishing
More than 80% of Irish-made alumina was exported to Russia in the first quarter of 2026, the highest proportion since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Irish Times reported on May 30.
RAGOZIN: Melnyk reburial signals ideological shift in Ukraine
During his seven years as president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s attitude to Ukraine’s history has changed radically.
Ukraine’s budget comes under strain as defence financing pressures build - KSE
Ukraine’s fiscal position remained broadly stable on the revenue side in the first quarter of 2026, but rising defence needs and delays in external financing increased pressure on public finances as the quarter progressed.
Shokhin appointed Russia's new business ombudsman as uncertainty over budget funding rises
The appointment of Alexander Shokhin as Russia's new business ombudsman is more significant than the title suggests. Shokhin is not merely another bureaucrat; he has spent almost two decades as president of the Russian Union of Industrialists .
Peskov rules out Ukraine ceasefire talks with Europe as it is a party to the war
As Europe hunts for a suitable mediator to negotiate a Ukraine war ceasefire deal with Russia, the Kremlin has ruled out any talks as Europe is party to the conflict, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 29.
US extends licence for Lukoil foreign asset sales to June
The United States has extended by one month, to June 27, a licence allowing companies to continue discussions with Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil (LKOH.MM) over the potential purchase of its overseas assets.
How effective are Ukraine’s drone strikes at destroying Russian refinery production?
Wrangling over how effective Ukraine’s drone strikes of Russian refineries has broken out amidst conflicting reports of just how much damage is being done to Russia’s key oil infrastructure.
Ukraine cuts tariffs in bid to incentivise gas storage
Ukraine has cut tariffs for gas storage services and introduced new incentives for long-term capacity bookings as Kyiv seeks to accelerate stockpiling ahead of a winter.
A growing Balkan bloc objects to Ukraine's accelerated EU membership
Former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban was the most vocal opponent of Ukraine’s EU accession bid. However, behind the scenes several other EU members have opposed allowing the agricultural superpower to join.
Moscow has closed the Ukraine ceasefire dialogue with the US - Ryabkov
Russia has suspended dialogue with the US on strategic stability and nuclear arms control, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, signalling a further deterioration in relations between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
The EU's enlargement dilemma
Europe debates new shape of enlargement as Ukraine and Western Balkan candidates push EU to rethink membership.
Ukraine shifts from wartime survival to long-term economic planning
Ukraine’s economy shrank sharply following the start of the war in 2022, with industrial facilities, energy infrastructure and logistics networks repeatedly targeted by missile and drone strikes.
Ukraine's ammunition lifeline frays as US scales back Nato commitments
Half of the members' ammunition alliance to supply Ukraine with shells have withdrawn from the Czech-led initiative that has kept the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) supplied with crucial munitions in its war with Russia in the last two years.
Macron calls Lukashenko as US withdraws from Ukraine ceasefire talks
French President Emmanuel Macron took the unusual step of calling Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko on May 24, which is now housing Russian nuclear weapons.
The hunt for a European mediator in Russia-Ukraine talks continues, but no talks are likely yet
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has put himself forward to represent the EU in possible ceasefire talks with Russia now the US has fully withdrawn from the process, but immediately ruled out any talks starting unless Russia agreed to a ceasefire.