Ukraine
US Secretary of State Blinken says Ukraine free to use US-made weapons to strike Russia
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ukraine has to “make its own choice” when deciding to use US-made weapons to strike targets inside Russia.
EBRD 2024: Geopolitics forces dramatic shifts in Emerging Europe trade patterns
EBRd report finds sanctions and trade disruptions have led to transformations in trade patterns across the Emerging Europe and Central Asia region.
KSE: funding gaps and recommendations for the Ukraine Investment Framework
The EU has set up the Ukraine Facility that is backed with the recently approved four-year €50bn support package that will provide funds for Ukraine’s reconstruction amongst other things.
EBRD2024: EBRD expects Emerging Europe growth boost in 2024, but slightly lowers forecast
Development bank makes downward revision in latest forecasts after worse than expected Q1 figures for Central Europe.
Far right activists attack Ukrainians visiting Bulgaria to buy Russian-made nuclear reactors
Ukraine wants to buy equipment Bulgaria bought from Russia for the scrapped Belene nuclear power plant project to replace occupied power infrastructure.
US Secretary of State Blinken assures continued support for Ukraine in surprise visit amidst Russian offensive
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on May 14, reaffirming America's commitment to Ukraine amidst Russia's intensified offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
ASH: Ukraine - running through the numbers
Lots of figures are thrown around about the cost of supporting Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion. I have myself used a $100 billion a year price tag for keeping Ukraine in the war, and likely a $50 billion a year post-war.
Joining the EU has been the best reform strategy for any former Warsaw pact country
After 20 years in the EU, a comparison of Poland and Romania with Ukraine, which is waiting to join, highlights the prosperity it brings its newest members.
High-level Ukrainian delegation makes first visit to Serbia since war began
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and First Lady Olena Zelenska visit Serbia to mend relations strained by Belgrade's refusal to cut ties with Russia.
Cabinet reshuffle sees Shoigu out of Russian Defence Ministry, Belousov in
Russian President Vladimir Putin fired his long-standing friend Sergei Shoigu as head of the Defence Minister and replaced him with economist Andrei Belousov as part of a government reshuffle following his inauguration last week.
Ukraine’s strategy of hitting Russian oil refineries is working
Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries are doing what oil sanctions failed to do: reducing the Kremlin’s income from oil production, limiting its supply of fuel for the army and pushing up domestic prices, without driving up oil prices.
EU turning a blind eye to Russian LNG flowing through its terminals
Europe has been turning a blind eye to a fifth of Russia’s LNG output that is flowing through EU ports, either to be consumed by member states or sent on to customers around the world, in what is a lucrative trade for the Kremlin.
Russia hits Ukrainian power facilities in six regions with intense missile attack, imports from EU won't cover winter demand
Russian forces launched an intense missile attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in six regions on May 8. Half of Ukraine’s power facilities are now out of action to the point where European imports won't cover this winter's demand.
Ukrainian oligarch Kolomoisky faces life imprisonment for murder
Igor Kolomoisky, once considered Ukraine’s most influential oligarch and a supporter of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has been charged with an organised murder from over 20 years ago, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment.
The Kremlin scores propaganda points with a display of captured tanks and armour ahead of the Victory Day parade
An exhibition of captured military trophies has opened in Moscow, ahead of the May 9 annual Victory Day parade, showing off Nato armour and vehicles captured by Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict.
Russian hackers target Kosovo over support for Ukraine
PM and president's websites temporarily offline in hacker attacks linked to Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci's criticisms of Russia.
KSE: Sanctions tracker - Russia’s external environment improves in April
External environment improves for Russia – March trade surplus doubled to $16.8bn compared to average values in January-February; current account surplus rose to $13.4bn.
New Ukraine funding deal gives EU members opt out on military spending using CBR frozen funds
Neutral EU member states will be able to opt out of a plan to use profits from Russia’s central bank frozen assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry calls on world to reject the legitimacy of Putin’s presidency
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it does not recognise Vladimir Putin as the democratically elected and legitimate president of Russia the day before he was due to be inaugurated for the fifth time.
Russian technology imports at pre-war levels, tougher export controls needed – Bruegel
Russia’s imports of Western technology have reached pre-war levels and the export control regime to stop the trade is full of holes. Tougher rules, enforcement and bigger fines are needed to curb the trade, according to a report by Bruegel.