Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder attended Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday celebration at his residence in Russia, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Pictures shared on Telegram showed the two leaders smiling and shaking hands inside a traditional Russian home. According to the Kremlin, Putin learned that Schroeder was in Moscow on business for
The Kremlin on Wednesday criticised France’s test launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile, saying the move reflected Europe’s growing focus on confrontation with Russia. Moscow described the approach as a “dead end” strategy. French President Emmanuel Macron had praised Tuesday’s missile test off the coast of Brittany, saying it sent a clear message without
A civilian cargo ship has sunk and its crew is missing after drone attacks in the Black Sea, Bulgarian officials said. A second grain-carrying vessel was also hit inside Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, but all 18 crew members were rescued. Two injured crew members were taken for medical treatment. The sunken vessel, the Turkish-owned Alfa […]
Russia’s wealthiest individuals have provided more than 471 billion roubles, or over $5.6 billion, to the state budget through what government documents describe as “voluntary receipts” this year, according to Reuters. The contributions followed a closed-door meeting between President Vladimir Putin and leading Russian businesspeople in March, many of whom are under
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged citizens to participate in the country’s upcoming parliamentary election, presenting voter participation as a measure of national support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The three-day election begins on Friday and will determine the 450 seats in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament. The election is the first […]
Finland has joined France’s initiative to expand cooperation with European partners on nuclear deterrence, the leaders of both countries announced on Monday. The move comes amid concerns over the future of US security commitments to Europe and the wider security impact of the war in Ukraine. France launched the Forward Nuclear Deterrence Initiative in March […]
A Russian drone entering Moldovan airspace delayed a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena as they prepared to leave Chisinau for Norway. Moldova temporarily closed its airspace after the unmanned aircraft crossed the border from the direction of Ukraine, leaving Zelensky’s aircraft on the runway for about an hour. Several other […]
Global food prices climbed to their highest level since late 2022 in August, driven by extreme weather, geopolitical tensions and growing concerns over agricultural supplies, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO Food Price Index averaged 133.3 points, up from a revised 130.8 in July, marking the highest reading since […]
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described the attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany as bearing the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. Speaking ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland, Kallas said Europe must coordinate its response as Russia’s attacks and alleged hybrid activities continue to escalate. Germany
Poland is increasingly turning to domestic and Central European defence companies as it builds what officials describe as Europe’s largest army. Defence procurement from Polish and regional firms has nearly quadrupled since 2022, reaching 30.4 billion zlotys ($8.15 billion) last year. The shift is aimed at reducing reliance on distant suppliers and strengthening









