Eastern Europe – Page 2 – European Neighbourhood Monitor

Trump, Putin, and the Vatican: Global Players Circle Ukraine Peace Effort

Amid renewed hopes for peace in Eastern Europe, a flurry of high-level diplomacy has begun to reshape the conversation around the war in Ukraine. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, back in the Oval Office, is making his most high-profile foreign policy push yet—staking his legacy on resolving a conflict that has outlasted multiple diplomatic overtures […]

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Tensions Escalate as Russia Attempts to Establish Buffer Zone in Ukraine’s Sumy Region

Eastern Europe / ENM

Sumy, Ukraine – Russian forces are attempting to establish a strategic buffer zone in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, according to local authorities. Oleh Hryhorov, Governor of Sumy, reported via Telegram that four villages near the border are currently in a “grey zone” due to ongoing hostilities. Despite repeated efforts, Russia has so far failed to

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Geologists caution research is needed to value Ukraine’s mineral wealth

Eastern Europe / ENM

Ukraine’s subsoil holds an abundance of valuable raw materials, including lithium, graphite, and cobalt, positioning the country as a potential economic powerhouse. The United States, under US President Donald Trump, saw an opportunity to access these resources through a strategic deal with Ukraine. Trump estimated the potential worth of these minerals to be around $500

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Italy may support Slovakia in its quest to resume Russian gas transit through Ukraine

Eastern Europe, Energy / ENM

The Italian government of Giorgia Meloni could be ready to support Slovak PM Robert Fico in his plan to resume Russian gas transit through Ukraine. This is what Italian academic Fransceco Sassi reports. Energy has been at the center of the Slovak diplomatic mission to Rome, and the visit appears to have been successful. According

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Zelensky repeats call for Western troops in Ukraine

Eastern Europe / ENM

Ukraine’s allies convened for the 25th time at Ramstein Air Base in Germany as part of the “Ukraine Defense Contact Group.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally attended the meeting, marking one of his last discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin before Donald Trump and his administration assume power in 11 days. Also present were

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Putin pitches Slovak PM Fico as Potential Mediator Between Russia and Ukraine

Eastern Europe / ENM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed openness to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico acting as a mediator for potential peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference in St. Petersburg, Putin stated that Fico had offered Slovakia as a platform for negotiations, a proposal the Russian leader described as “acceptable.” He also

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EU pledges to “help Ukraine keep the lights on”

Eastern Europe / ENM

On a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Kiev, she has promised extra help to Ukraine to defend itself against Russian attacks and get through the winter. Money that Ukraine will be able to put to good use as next winter promises to be even tougher than the 2 previous ones,

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Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk sparks debate

Eastern Europe / ENM

Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk region has been a surprising success, leaving Moscow scrambling to respond. With Ukrainian forces occupying an estimated 800 square kilometers of Russian territory, according to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the operation has not only caught the Kremlin off guard but also highlighted vulnerabilities in

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The State of Hybrid Warfare and Kremlin Propaganda in the EU

Eastern Europe / ENM

During a debate in Brussels at the Press Club Brussels Europe on “Hybrid Warfare and Kremlin Propaganda in the EU”, Ukrainian Member of Parliament Yuri Kamelchuk discussed with Members of European Parliament Karen Melchior and Viola von Cramon provided their insights on this timely topic. Kamelchuk highlighted how “it is hard to discuss Russia without

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European Court of Human Rights to review ban on Moldovan opposition party

Eastern Europe / ENM

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova has ruled to declare the SOR party, a prominent opposition party, unconstitutional. According to the Constitutional Court, any actions or administrative acts of this party adopted after the promulgation of the decision lose their legal significance. The organisation, whose leadership is accused of forming a criminal organisation,

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