News
Renault said to be considering exiting Russian AvtoVaz joint venture
French carmaker Renault is considering transferring ownership of its majority-held joint venture with Russia’s largest carmaker AvtoVaz to a local investor as a way to exit the country, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources.
Polls show stable Fidesz lead over opposition alliance before April 3 election
Election could turn on how well the ruling party and the democratic opposition mobilise their voters in battleground constituencies.
Russia’s FSB and GRU have hacked Hungary’s foreign ministry since 2013, claims investigative news site
Opposition demands Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto resign for ignoring and covering up way Russia's secret services have "practically unlimited access" to special protected network.
Ukraine war will knock 1 to 1.5 points off CEE growth this year, says Capital Economics
Forecaster expects the war to add 2 percentage points to CEE inflation this year.
Hidroelectrica shareholders poised to announce long-awaited IPO
Listing of Romanian energy company Hidroelectrica expected to result in a major IPO estimated at around €1.8bn.
Turkish economic crisis could exceed 2001 catastrophe says ex-IMF chief economist Rogoff
Comments come after economist warned spread of a lack of confidence to Turkey's banking and financial system could trigger “major systemic crisis”.
Russia to “drastically reduce” forces around Kyiv in Istanbul peace talks breakthrough
Russia has decided to "drastically reduce combat operations" around the capital Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv, its deputy defence minister said in a breakthrough during peace talks being held in Istanbul on March 29.
Limak and Mapa ‘selling Istanbul Airport stakes to partners Kalyon and Cengiz’
Mega airport is PPP project. Erdogan administration has provided $153bn in income guarantees to PPP projects. Not one is self-financing to date.
EBRD in process of closing resident offices in Moscow and Minsk
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is in the process of closing its Resident Offices in Moscow and Minsk, the development bank said in a press release on March 29.
Russia’s “Taxi Bill” lets FSB snoop on passengers
Russia's Ministry of Transport wants to compel taxi services to hand over information about rides to the intelligence agencies. The bill also proposes a set of other curbs on Russia's largely unregulated taxi segment.
Rosatom reportedly pulling out of Paks project
State-owned Russian energy company could struggle to fulfil delayed nuclear contract because of sanctions over Ukraine war.
G7 refuses Russian demand for its gas to be paid in rubles
The G7 group of industrialised economies has unanimously agreed to refuse Moscow's demand that all gas imports from Russia be paid in rubles, saying that this is a breach of contract.
Putin appears unwilling to compromise
A senior US official has reportedly said that Putin is unwilling to compromise over Ukraine, maintaining his absolutist goals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on the other hand, has expressed a willingness to discuss Russian demands.
Bulgarian PM offers hope of a breakthrough for North Macedonia’s stalled EU accession
Kiril Petkov says North Macedonia “has a place in the European family”, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warns further enlargement delays lay Western Balkans open to influence from third parties.
Polish president slams Orban over Ukraine
Duda says Hungary's soft approach to Russia is "difficult to understand" and will be "very costly".
Russia accuses Azerbaijan of breaching ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh
Russia said that it was deeply concerned about the rise in tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh and called for calm.
Belarus grants political asylum to US citizen
Last week the Belarusian authorities granted political asylum to a US citizen. The regime has used this in an attempt to legitimise itself amidst its own brutal domestic political persecution.
Biden calls Putin a butcher, but Macron urges caution
White House backtracks on comments that implied that US was seeking regime change in Russia.
Putin personally approved Abramovich’s role in peace negotiations
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is mediating between Russia and Ukraine with Putin's blessing, according to sources cited by the Financial Times.
Biden visits a Poland transformed into key Nato ally by Putin's 'war of choice'
For Poland the visit will underline the country’s newly gained clout in a fast rebalancing global security and geopolitical order.
