Ukraine
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.
Putin leaves door open to 30-day ceasefire but avoids firm commitments
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed conditional support for a ceasefire in Ukraine but stopped short of making definitive commitments, leaving key issues unresolved.
RAGOZIN: What did we die for?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, warned that a ceasefire in the Russo-Ukrainian war would be meaningless without security guarantees for Kyiv.
Tusk hails Erdogan meeting as “historic breakthrough” as Poland, Turkey commit to joint defence, arms production work
"Our cooperation as two strong Nato partners has taken on a new significance today," he says.
MOSCOW BLOG: Little common ground as Russia prepares to offer ceasefire conditions
Bankova opened the bidding in the peace talks by calling for a 30-day ceasefire and withdrawing from Russia’s Kursk region as an act of “good faith”. But both sides have adopted harder lines with little common ground as starting positions.
EU braces for Hungarian veto on Russia sanctions extension
Brussels is preparing for the possibility that Hungary may block the renewal of European Union sanctions against Russia, a move that could unfreeze tens of billions of euros in assets and undermine Ukraine's financial aid structure.
Poland’s Tusk backs Turkey for Ukraine peace process role on Ankara visit
Trip also provides support to president Erdogan as he bids to make Turkish armed forces and defence industry prominent in Europe's plan to rearm and strengthen security architecture.
OPINION: CEE infrastructure to take centre stage as Ukraine post-war reconstruction looms
The war in Ukraine appears to be drawing to a close and Central and Eastern Europe's infrastructure capabilities – or lack thereof – will soon be thrust into the global spotlight.
Druzhba pipeline oil deliveries suspended temporarily due to drone strike, Hungarian FM says
Oil deliveries to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline have had to be suspended temporarily on March 11 due to a Ukrainian drone strike on one of the pipeline’s measuring stations.
Briefings reveal Nato chief called on EU and Turkey to improve relations amid pressing security concerns
Mark Rutte said to have privately urged bloc leaders to step up engagement with Turkish leader Erdogan. Ankara keen for role in beefed up European defence format.
"Sudzha is our Stalingrad": Russia to open museum in Kursk Region to document Ukrainian occupation
Authorities in Russia’s Kursk region have proposed the establishment of a museum in Sudzha dedicated to the “Ukrainian occupation” of the city, which has been under Kyiv’s control for seven months since August 2024.
Ukraine agrees to US-brokered 30-day ceasefire with Russia
At talks in Jeddah, Ukrainian officials say Kyiv is willing to suspend military operations, provided Moscow adheres to the terms.
Trump reportedly unlikely to resume Ukraine military aid even with minerals deal
Donald Trump has privately informed his aides that he does not intend to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, NBC News sources revealed ahead of Jeddah summit.
Viktor Orban warns against Ukraine's EU membership, says economic package with US is in the pipeline
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the admission of Ukraine to the EU would destabilise Europe's economy and its financial stability.