Tag: EU-Russia relations
Putin rakes in extra €1B for his war chest via Bulgaria sanctions loophole – POLITICO
BRUSSELS — The Kremlin raked in an extra €1 billion for its war effort this year after Russia’s largest private oil firm exploited loopholes in EU sanctions rules — with help from Bulgaria.
Taking advantage of a unique exemption to the EU’s Russian oil ban, Bulgaria allowed millions of barrels of Russian oil to reach a local Russian-owned refinery, which then exported various refined fuels abroad including to EU countries, according to an investigation by the NGO Global Witness, the
Niger coup sparks concerns about French, EU uranium dependency – POLITICO
The military coup in Niger is raising fears, especially in France, over its potential impact on the import of uranium to power nuclear plants.
Niger supplies 15 percent of France’s uranium needs and accounts for a fifth of the EU’s total uranium imports. Orano, France’s state-controlled nuclear fuel producer, is continuing its activities in Niger and monitoring the situation, a company spokesperson said in a statement emailed to POLITICO, stressing that “our priority is to maintain the safety of our
More jaw jaw than war war – POLITICO
This article is part of the Europe’s strategic impotence Special Report.
War is usually a boon for the military-industrial complex. But that’s not happening for Europe’s defense industry — yet.
More than a year into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, contracts have been slow to materialize, the Continent’s industrial base is still in tatters following decades of underinvestment, and fierce competition looms from outside Europe.
Politicians eager to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s aggression and beef up the Continent’s forces
German government’s first year in office — rated – POLITICO
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BERLIN — A historic coalition set out ambitious goals for reforming Germany. Then the war hit.
The storied tradition of consensus-building in the German government reached a new level over the past year, as the EU’s most-populous country struggled to lead Europe after Angela Merkel’s tenure of 16 years.
One year ago, Olaf Scholz was elected as the ninth German chancellor since World War II, leading an unprecedented “traffic-light
EU countries unanimously back Ukraine — except on its bid to join the EU – POLITICO
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EU countries are all for Ukraine in its war against Russia, but they are all over the map when it comes to Ukraine’s demand to be recognized as a candidate for EU membership.
The European Commission on Friday is expected to recommend formal candidate status for Ukraine and for neighboring Moldova, but the final decision requires unanimity among the 27 EU heads of state and government who will gather for a European Council
In Ukraine, even peace accords can be a Russian weapon – POLITICO
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In their frenzied diplomatic effort to dissuade Russia from a new invasion of Ukraine, Western leaders are pinning renewed hope on the long-stuck Minsk peace accords.
The Minsk agreements, first negotiated in 2014 and 2015, were intended to bring an end to the war with Russian-backed separatists, then raging in eastern Ukraine.
But the pact is fiercely disputed and flawed, with ambiguous provisions open to conflicting interpretation and serious contingencies unplanned for.
Since
With Russian guns pointed at Ukraine, West and Moscow dive into talks – POLITICO
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GENEVA — U.S., European, and NATO officials are adamant the intense week of diplomatic meetings with Russia is a dialogue, not a negotiation.
But with upwards of 100,000 Russian soldiers quite literally pointing guns at Ukraine, with tanks and other heavy weaponry massed on the border, and President Vladimir Putin openly threatening military action if his demands for security guarantees are not met, this week’s talks have all the markings of a hostage