Russia closes Polish consulate

Brussels 05.12.2024 Today Russian announced the closure of Poland’s consulate in Saint Petersburg, pointing to Warsaw’s recent decision to shut down a Russian consulate in Poznan over accusations of sabotage. In the context of tensions escalating since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland warned of further diplomatic channel closures if alleged espionage activities persist. Poland announced…

Mark Rutte: “Putin is not interested in peace”

Brussels 03.12.2024 Ahead of the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels 3-4 Dec 2024 the Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed press representatives. “Today, as you know, and tomorrow, NATO Foreign Ministers will meet and we have many urgent security issues to discuss. “This afternoon we will welcome His Majesty King Abdullah II…

EU officials visit Riyadh

Brussels 28.11.2024 Members of the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC), including the PSC Chair, Ambassador Delphine Pronk, as well as Ambassadors of EU Member States, paid the first-ever official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 24 – 26 November 2024. The delegation was accompanied by the EEAS Managing Director for MENA, Ms…

Borrell: focus on support to Ukraine

Brussels 19.11.2024 “…It is clear that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is the biggest threat to the European security and stability since the end of the Second World War. It is good to remind that security is the most important asset for a society. If there is no security, it is difficult to build anything else”…

Iran: EU widens restrictive measures

Brussels 18.11.2024 The Council today decided to widen the scope of the EU framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. This additional measure is targeted to the use of vessels…

Borrell calls for “power response” to Putin

18.11.2024 The EU Foreign Affairs Council has started today in Brussels, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. At doorstep of the meeting Borrell answered a few questions of the journalist. There is a broad agenda for discussion for the EU top diplomats: Russian aggression against Ukraine EU…

EU targets Russia’s “shadow fleet”

Brussels 14.11.2024 MEPs demand more targeted EU sanctions against Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’, which provides a key financial lifeline for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Russia uses old tankers, often uninsured and with unclear ownership, to export its crude oil and petroleum products abroad, despite EU, G7 and international sanctions. These activities have also raised fears…

NATO: Blinken visits Brussels headquarters

Brussels 13.11.2024 Today the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is engaged in emergency talks with European allies in Brussels to clarify how to continue military support to Ukraine in the new frame of the Republican presidency. During the short visit the Secretary of state’s will meet with NATO chief Mark Rutte, European Union top…

EU: Kaja Kallas – heiress to Borrell

Brussels 12.11.2024 The Foreign Affairs Committee questioned Kaja Kallas, Estonian candidate for High Representative/Vice-President for foreign affairs and security policy. https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/video/confirmation-hearing-of-kaja-kallas-high-representative-of-the-union-for-foreign-affairs-and-security-policy-and-vice-president-of-the-european-commission-opening-statement-by-the-high-representative_I262960 In her introductory statement, Ms Kallas pledged to work on strengthening the EU’s position in the world and safeguarding its geopolitical and economic security. She also called for more investment in defence and stressed…

EU rejects attempts to legitimise Northern Cyprus

Budapest 07.11.2024 “The European Union rejects the repeated attempts by the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) to legitimise the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity, the so-called, internationally not recognised, “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (“TRNC”), through granting OTS observer status, including at its summit taking place yesterday in Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic)” reads the statement by the…