Russia – Page 2 – European Neighbourhood Monitor

US Energy Secretary Flags Concerns Over India’s Russian Oil Imports

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has expressed concern about India’s continued imports of Russian oil, describing it as a “source of friction” in otherwise strong bilateral ties. Speaking at a press conference, Wright emphasized that India remains a key ally and an important partner for Washington, particularly in energy cooperation. “India is a fast-growing economy […]

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Geopolitical Challenges Surround the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal

Caucasus / ENM

The peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, brokered by the United States, has faced criticism from various quarters, including Russia, Iran, and certain Armenian diaspora groups. Russia’s Concerns Russia has expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement, accusing the West of attempting to “usurp” the peace deal and align it with its own interests. This sentiment is

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UK and EU Watch Closely as Russia’s Alleged Antarctic Oil Discovery Sparks Global Concern

Arctic / ENM

The United Kingdom has raised alarms over what it fears may be a covertly strategic Russian oil find in Antarctica. According to testimony to the UK Environmental Audit Committee in 2024 and again in 2025, researchers aboard Russia’s Aleksandr Karpinskiy vessel are believed to have identified approximately 511 billion barrels of oil—nearly double Saudi Arabia’s

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Kazakhstan Overtakes Russia and China in GDP Per Capita

Central Asia / ENM

Kazakhstan is on track to become the wealthiest country in the post-Soviet space in terms of GDP per capita, according to the latest figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Central Asian nation’s GDP per capita is expected to reach $14,770 in 2025, surpassing Russia’s $14,260 and China’s $13,690. Turkmenistan follows at $13,340. Other

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Russia Moves Forward with Major Uranium Development in Eastern Siberia

Eastern Europe / ENM

Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has officially begun development of the Shirondukuyskoye uranium deposit in Eastern Siberia, situated near the city of Krasnokamensk — commonly known as Russia’s “uranium capital” — close to the borders of China and Mongolia. The project is expected to yield its first uranium by 2028, according to the company’s mining

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Azerbaijan and Ukraine Launch First Gas Shipment via Trans-Balkan Route

Eastern Europe / ENM

In a move seen as a potential step toward diversifying regional energy flows, Azerbaijan and Ukraine have agreed to initiate their first natural gas shipment between the two countries. The shipment will avoid Russian territory, instead using the Trans-Balkan route that passes through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. The announcement was jointly promoted by Naftogaz, Ukraine’s

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“Russia’s Influence in Post-Soviet States Declines Amid Shifting Regional Dynamics”

Eastern Europe / ENM

Russia is facing a notable decline in its influence over several post-Soviet states, as countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia pursue greater independence, forge new alliances, and reduce Moscow’s military and economic presence, experts say. Jeffrey Mankoff, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, highlighted these developments in a recent

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Serbia’s Delicate Balancing Act

Western Balkans / ENM

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is continuing a delicate diplomatic balancing act as he tries to maintain strong relations with Russia while keeping Serbia’s long-standing aspirations for European Union membership alive. Vučić’s recent appearance in Moscow at Russia’s Victory Day military parade in May stirred criticism from EU officials. The visit marked his first since Russia’s

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

Eastern Europe / ENM

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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