Ukraine
Russia, US discussing restarting Nord Stream gas deliveries to Europe
Moscow and Washington are currently in talks on the possibility of restarting Nord Stream gas pipelines deliveries to Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russia’s Channel One in an interview on March 26.
Kremlin demands sanctions relief in temporary Ukraine conflict ceasefire deal
The White House said that both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe shipping in the Black Sea and will “develop instruments” to ban strikes on energy assets in two separate statements after a second round of negotiations wound up.
Nitty gritty horsetrading gets underway at second round of Ukraine talks in Riyadh
The horse-trading got underway in earnest at the second round of ceasefire talks in Riyadh on March 23. Two negotiating teams from Ukraine and Russia met separately with their US counterparts to start setting the conditions for an end of hostilities.
Rights watchdog documents forced mobilisation of Central Asian labour migrants in Russian military
Citizenship wielded as instrument of coercion.
Zelensky calls US talks in Saudi Arabia “constructive”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the talks between Ukrainian and US delegations in Saudi Arabia as “constructive and beneficial,” in his evening address on March 23.
Trump Ukraine envoy Witkoff dismisses Starmer’s Ukraine ceasefire plan, parrots Kremlin talking points
Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has criticised Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal for an international force to support a ceasefire in Ukraine, and went on to parrot many of the Kremlin’s talking points.
Is Ukraine heading towards Finlandisation?
A frustrated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for action, not protracted negotiations on March 22, ahead of the next round of US-Russia ceasefire talks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
COMMENT: Is the EU going to fall apart?
Is the EU about to break apart under the stress of taking over the full weight of supporting Ukraine, the need to rearm and the hundreds of billions that must be invested if it is to become competitive again?
Slovak PM Fico insists his policies are ‘sovereign’ after not blocking EU’s Ukrainian policy
Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico insisted his policies are “sovereign” after he took part in the EU summit, which he had threatened to boycott earlier.
ASH: Trump delivers on Putin’s plan to ensure Ukraine fails
Trump’s peace plan is proceeding at breakneck pace but the problem is that it is Ukraine’s neck that is on the line here.
Trump proposes taking control of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants
President Trump has proposed that the US assume control of Ukraine's nuclear power plants to safeguard the country's energy infrastructure as part of a ceasefire plan, the president said during a call with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy.
Putin tells Russia's oligarchs that the return of Western business will not be easy or cheap
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the country’s leading oligarchs that Western companies that “slammed the door” on Russia when they left the country after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine will not be allowed to repurchase their assets cheaply.
Trump gets PR win, but Putin concedes little in 30-day ceasefire phone call
US President Donald Trump gained a PR win after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy assets in a two-hour phone call on March 18.
Several EU countries back push to fund Prague-based RFE/RL in response to Trump axeing it
Member states want EU to fund Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at dismantling the Agency for Global Media.
Trump to have key phone call with Putin to discuss terms needed to end the Ukraine conflict
Russia will agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, US President Donald Trump said ahead of a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Washington leans on Budapest to back down from veto threats
Hungary's government has backed down on vetoing European Union sanctions on Russia following direct pressure from Washington.
Russia demands its own “ironclad” security guarantees as part of ceasefire deal
Russia will insist on its own “ironclad” security guarantees as part of any ceasefire deal to end the conflict in Ukraine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in remarks published on March 17.
European defence industry is the global growth laggard, says Statista
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for increased European defence spending under the ReArm Europe plan, but Europe is trailing the other major arms producers badly.
Economic warfare and the rise of Russia's shadow finance
As the US sanctions noose tightens around Russia’s ability to make and receive payments in dollars, the major oil firms are increasingly turning to cryptocurrency to settle trade deals.
Hungary demands removal of Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman from EU sanctions list
The Hungarian government, widely regarded as the most Russia-friendly in the EU, has repeatedly obstructed EU sanctions against Moscow and delayed military aid to Ukraine.