Eastern Europe / News
Lavrov in Tehran to discuss Trump sanctions and nuclear programme
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Tehran on February 25, holding a private meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Serbian president says he backed UN resolution on Ukraine by mistake
President Aleksandar Vucic publicly apologised to Serbian citizens, and blamed "personal fatigue" for his vote in favour of a UN resolution calling for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Putin offers Trump joint rare earth metals exploration projects
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed joint exploration of Russia’s rare earth metals deposits and the supply of aluminium to the US market as part of a potential economic agreement, Reuters reported on February 25.
Tokyo appeals for G7 unity over Ukraine
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has urged his fellow leaders from the Group of Seven nations to remain united in their efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.
EU expands oil and gas sanctions in 16th package
The EU has imposed additional measures against Russia’s oil and gas industry as part of its 16th sanctions package, while stopping short of any further restrictions on the bloc’s purchase of Russian LNG.
US sides with Russia in voting against a Ukraine-sponsored UN resolution to condemn the war on its third anniversary
The US voted with Russia and its allies against a resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing conflict on February 24 as the Western unity to support Kyiv in its struggle continues to crumble.
President Zelenskiy says he is willing to quit if Ukraine gets security guarantees, Nato membership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he'd be ready to give up presidency if it brought peace, Nato membership and genuine security guarantees for Ukraine.
Russia's Rosatom in talks to build new nuclear power plant in Iran
Russian state-run atomic energy giant Rosatom is in talks to construct another nuclear power plant (NPP) in Iran, the company’s chief said.
Putin opens the door to the return of Western business to Russia
President Vladimir Putin has opened the door to Western companies’ return to the Russian market, but only on the Kremlin’s terms and only after sanctions are lifted, the Russian president said on February 21.
Russia considers ceding its frozen $300bn CBR money as part of a ceasefire deal
Russia is considering the use of $300bn in frozen assets held in Europe to help rebuild Ukraine, but insists part of the money be used to rebuild the Ukrainian territories under its control, Reuters reports.
Putin says sanctions have strengthened, not weakened, Russian economy
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Western sanctions have played a “stimulating role” in Russia’s economic development, rather than bring it to its knees.
Brazil's Lula backs Ukraine peace mission but rules out sending troops
Brazil will not send troops to Ukraine but would support a peacekeeping mission, President Lula da Silva said in a joint statement with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
White House offers a revised mineral deal, but US-Ukraine relations still in limbo
The White House has offered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a revised version of its deal to exploit rare earth minerals that Kyiv rejected last week because the terms were too harsh.
Hungary set to block extension of EU sanctions against Russia, citing peace talks
Hungary will not vote in favour of extending sanctions against Russian and Belarusian individuals at the upcoming meeting of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council, arguing that it would hinder US-Russian peace talks.
Potential US troop withdrawal from Europe to leave Kosovo exposed
Fears US may consider withdrawing its troops from Europe, including Kosovo, if Trump and Putin reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump interested in jointly developing Arctic oil and gas with Russia
The US and Russia are looking at joint energy projects in the Arctic, as part of the ceasefire negotiation in Riyadh, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund boss Kirill Dmitriev told Politico on February 19.
Zelenskiy, Trump take verbal swipes at each other as relations between Washington and Kyiv nosedive
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, accusing the US president of being trapped in a “disinformation bubble” over the war in Ukraine.
EU eyes “strategic autonomy” partnership with Latin America amid deepening rift with US
The European Union is seeking to deepen its relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean, framing the partnership as one built on "strategic autonomy" rather than as a counterbalance to China's growing influence in the region.
Trump’s mineral deal for Ukraine “worse than Versailles”, reports The Daily Telegraph
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ordered his staff not to sign the proposed deal that would hand the US control over Ukraine's raw materials and key infrastructure.
Zelenskiy freezes US minerals deal, reaches out to Arab nations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has frozen a proposed concession to mine Ukraine’s considerable mineral resources after the US side offered little in return and is travelling in the Middle East to look for new partners.