Georgia: EU Foreign Affairs Council suspends visa-free travel for diplomats and officials
Brussels, 27 January 2025 Today, the Council decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation
27/01/2025
LATEST NEWS
Türkiye: Press remarks by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas in Ankara
“The path to Syria’s future also runs through Türkiye. I commend Türkiye for really helping a large number of Syrian refugees and welcoming them here. It is clear that the refugees can return to Syria when Syria is a stable country, and there are jobs, and it is possible to make a living” – EU High Representative Kaja Kallas in Ankara.
24/01/2025
President Putin comments on potential talks with U.S. President Trump
In a recent Russian interview, Russian President Putin responded to U.S. President Trump’s comments about a potential meeting or dialogue between the two leaders. But Putin avoided addressing Trump’s call at Davos for Russia to immediately end its war against Ukraine.
24/01/2025
NATO Secretary General at Davos: “We have to change the trajectory of the war”
NATO Secretary General Rutte underlined that a win for Putin would be a defeat for freedom, security and global stability: “We really have to step up and not scale back the support for Ukraine. We have to change the trajectory of the war”, he insisted adding that any deal that pleased Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea would “make the world a darker place”.
24/01/2025
U.S. State Secretary Narco Rubio calls NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
U.S. State Secretary Rubio reinforced the U.S. commitment to NATO and the continued importance of the Alliance to international security.
24/01/2025
MEPs condemn Russia’s use of disinformation to justify its war in Ukraine
The text adopted by Parliament rejects historical claims by the Russian regime to undermine Ukraine’s history and national identity as futile attempts to justify its ongoing illegal war. It also condemns Russia’s failure to establish accountability for Soviet crimes, and for cracking down on attempts to carry out historical research and holding public debates on these issues.
23/01/2025
World Economic Forum: Transcript of U.S. President Donald Trump’s special address
In his first major global address as the newly inaugurated 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump took center stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He pledged to fix “economic chaos”, slashing oil and gas prices, cutting regulations, introducing tax breaks for U.S. producers, and imposing tariffs on foreign goods. Trump promises to make America “stronger, wealthier, and more united than ever”, and to sanction Russia
23/01/2025
IEA: Global gas balance remains fragile in 2025 as growing demand meets tight supply
While the halting of Russian piped gas transit via Ukraine does not pose any imminent supply risk for European Union, it could add to near-term LNG market pressures, according to the latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
23/01/2025
EDA Conference: EU High Representative Kallas calls for EU Single Market for defence
The European Union must bind its defence industry close together and develop weapons systems collaboratively, the new Head of the European Defence Agency (EDA), High Representative Kaja Kallas, told the 2025 EDA Annual Conference. She also called for the Agency to do more. Read her speech.
22/01/2025
European Defence Agency Conference: Remarks by EU Defence Commissioner Kubilius
“We can outspend, outproduce, and outgun Russia. Every euro we spend today on defence will save lives tomorrow—lives of our sons, daughters, and future generations. Let’s turbocharge our efforts, together. Industry, Member States, armed forces, and EU institutions, especially the European Defence Agency (EDA), must work in seamless cooperation” – EU Defence Commissioner Kubilius at the EDA Conference.
22/01/2025
EU Commission: Detect and counter sabotage by Russia’s shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea
At the European Parliament plenary debate, EU Commission EVP Henna Virkkunen discusses with MEPs how to prevent sabotage by Russia’s shadow fleet, damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
22/01/2025
Readouts of President Xi Jinping’s video meeting with President Vladimir Putin
President Xi stressed his readiness to work with President Putin and guide China-Russia relations to a new height in 2025, to respond to external uncertainties with the stability and resilience of China-Russia ties, to boost the development and prosperity of both countries, and to uphold international fairness and justice.
22/01/2025
North Atlantic Council: Speech by EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius
“Defending Ukraine means defending Europe. Every missile, every drone shot down by Ukraine – is one that will not threaten Europe, one that will not threaten NATO. Every day Ukraine stands fast, is a day of delay. A day Putin cannot turn his full might against us. Every day Ukraine fights on, is a day the European Union and NATO can grow stronger. We can prevent Russian aggression if we
20/01/2025
Russia: EEAS statement on politically motivated charges of Alexei Navalny’s defence lawyers
On 17 January, the Petushinsky District Court of the Vladimir Region, Russia, sentenced defence lawyers of late Alexei Navalny for performing their professional duties defending Alexei Navalny in the farcical justice system in Russia.
17/01/2025
Russian Influence Campaign: G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) statement
The G7 RRM notes recent statements by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada exposing the ongoing covert activities of Russian state media outlet RT (formerly Russia Today) and the Social Design Agency (SDA). These statements reveal that the Kremlin has funded and directed covert efforts by these entities to subvert societies using global disinformation and influence campaigns.
17/01/2025
NATO’s Allied Chiefs of Defence meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
NATO’s highest Military Authority, the Military Committee, meets in Chiefs of Defence format at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting focuses on further strengthening deterrence and defence of the Alliance, strengthening NATO’s Partnerships around the world, and supporting Ukraine in its resistance against Russia’s unprovoked aggression.
15/01/2025
Russia’s war against Ukraine: EU General Court confirms sanctions against MegaFon
The EU General Court confirms the restrictive measures adopted against the Russian mobile telephone operator MegaFon. The inclusion and maintenance of that company’s name on the lists of entities subject to the restrictive measures were well founded.
15/01/2025
Conflict zones: EASA updates safety guidance on Russian Federation airspace
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for the airspace of the Russian Federation. To ensure maximum flight safety amid Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine, the new Conflict Zone Information Bulletin replaces and broadens the scope of the recommendation regarding Russian airspace.
14/01/2025
NATO launches ‘Baltic Sentry’ to increase critical infrastructure security
At the meeting in Helsinki, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the launch of a new military activity by NATO to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure: “Baltic Sentry” will enhance NATO’s military presence in the Baltic Sea and improve Allies’ ability to respond to destabilizing acts.
14/01/2025
Sanctions against Russia: Sweden pushes EU initiative on oil price cap
Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, along with her Nordic and Baltic colleagues, has written a letter urging the EU Commission proposing to lower the oil price cap within the G7.
13/01/2025
Informal retreat: Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council
“The purpose of this meeting is to prepare the ground for the decisions we will have to take and to provide guidance to the Commission and the High Representative as they prepare a white paper on the future of European defence, which will cover joint defence initiatives and the resources necessary to develop them. As foreseen in the Leaders’ Agenda, my aim is to return to the subject of defence
13/01/2025