Meloni distinguished herself from her two allies in the centre-right coalition, Matteo Salvini’s Lega and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, who were much more cautious on the subject, by virtue of their relatively good relations with Vladimir Putin in the past.
Hélène de Lauzun —
Aibek Smadiyarov specifically referred to Kazakhstan’s commitment to the territorial integrity of states, while emphasizing the need for dialogue.
Carlos Perona Calvete —
Despite its ties with Russia, Serbia announced it won’t recognise the results of the referendums held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. Serbia’s own problems with Kosovarian independence, as well as warnings from the EU, play into that decision.
David Boos —
A total of three leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines have been discovered within 24 hours, leading investigators to suspect sabotage. Officials’ two main theories are that either Ukraine or Russia is responsible for the leaks.
David Boos —
A common sentiment among the population is that Ukrainians cannot afford to indulge in woe but should do their best to rebuild, regain lost wealth, and live on.
Daria Fedotova —
Ukrainian grain will be shipped beyond Europe to countries, particularly in Africa, that need it.
Bridget Ryder —
UK intelligence continued to confirm that Ukraine was routing Russian troops, including its elite forces.
Bridget Ryder —
The watchdog, together with President Zelensky and UN Secretary-General Guterres, advises establishing a demilitarized security zone.
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
Is there a proper way to differentiate between true refugees and opportunists? It is a hard question to answer. But one thing is sure: it is never a loss when the Church gets actively involved in a refugee’s life. While the system can be cheated, God cannot.
Galyna Peregrin —
The Belarusian leader touted his country’s fighter jets, now retrofitted with nuclear weapons. While Belarus has no nuclear arsenal of its own, after a referendum held earlier this year, it receives nuclear weaponry from its Russian ally.
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
President Vladimir Putin has vowed to “de-Nazify” Ukraine. To understand the Kremlin’s propaganda, we must go back to the Second World War and even earlier.
Marek Jan Chodakiewicz —
Earlier this month, Ukraine and Russia hurled accusations at each other over the nuclear facility and its surrounding area’s shelling, causing global concern over a nuclear catastrophe taking place.
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
Arguing for its replacement, Lithuania’s minister of foreign affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis tweeted that “China’s 17+1 format was already redundant and divisive long before Lithuania quit.”
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
Oil deliveries from Russia had been detained through the southern half of the Druzhba pipeline due to a problem with transit fee payments caused by EU sanctions.
Bridget Ryder —
The package includes ammunition for the U.S.-supplied HIMARS, which has been termed a “gamechanger” by Western officials. With their 300 kilometres range, they have proved highly effective in hitting various strategic targets.
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
I wanted to read irrefutable evidence that the Russian economy had suffered deeply and perhaps irreversibly from the war. As I kept reading the report, my hopes fell flat. This is nothing more than an academic propaganda pamphlet.
Sven R. Larson —
In a statement on August 2nd, the Azov Regiment accused Russia of using the judicial declaration to justify war crimes, and called on Washington to designate Russia a terrorist state.
Bridget Ryder —
Russia supports Serbian claims that the existence of an independent Kosovo would have no historical validity—a parallel being easily drawn with Russian claims over Crimea in 2014 and now over Ukraine as a whole.
Hélène de Lauzun —
Rinkēvičs told Politico that the European Union needed to intensify its efforts to isolate Russia. Russian “society needs to feel it,” he argued, since most Russians support Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.
Bridget Ryder —
Dubbed the “Black Sea Grain Initiative,” the agreements will provide safe ocean passage out of the three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea—Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny—and on to the rest of the world.
Bridget Ryder —
The debt relief comes as Ukraine is facing $1.2 billion of debt payments due at the beginning of September, and a serious shortfall in cash flow—due to the Russian invasion that began at the end of February.
Bridget Ryder —
Britain’s Ministry of Defence, supportive of Kyiv, said that it believed Russian forces weren’t advancing swiftly because of personnel shortages.
Bridget Ryder —
The €1 billion from the EU will help the beleaguered country cover its most urgent needs. It brings the total macro-financial support from the EU to Ukraine to € 2.2 billion.
Bridget Ryder —
The Ministry of Agriculture called the move from Brussels “a setback,” as it comes just when the war in Ukraine has created a global need for seeds and seed oils that farmers were ready to respond to.
Bridget Ryder —
Canada’s return of a repaired gas turbine to Russia has left Germans relieved that the gas flow through Nord Stream 1 may soon resume. But Ukrainian officials are disappointed about the circumvention of sanctions.
David Boos —
While Kyiv wants frozen Russian assets to go towards rebuilding its war-torn nation, the thorny issue of its legality remains.
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
Zelensky assured Ukrainians in his regular address later on July 3rd that this was not the end of Ukraine’s defence of Luhansk and that Ukraine’s military would seek an opportunity to recapture the region.
Bridget Ryder —
Kissinger evoked strong criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in May when he suggested that Ukraine cede territory to Russia to end the war.
Bridget Ryder —
The club of wealthy nations comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the U.S. took the opportunity to renew their vow of standing with Ukraine on all fronts “for as long as it takes.”
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
The silver coin leaves very little to the imagination; it depicts a doctor, a nurse, and a “young person” who is “ready to receive the vaccine”—a “theme that is very close to Pope Francis’ heart.”
David Boos —
The decision is above all a symbolic one, as a response to Vladimir Putin who declared only a few weeks ago that the Ukrainian state had never properly existed and had no international legitimacy.
Hélène de Lauzun —
Orbán emphasized to Zelensky that he supported Ukraine’s bid for EU membership, as well as the removal of bureaucratic obstacles to Ukraine’s accession.
Bridget Ryder —
The news has provoked anger and frustration among Georgians, who deplore the preferential treatment given to Ukraine and fear that Russia will attack them again.
Hélène de Lauzun —
Ukraine undoubtedly sees this opening door as a sign of its anchorage in the West, and a promise of improved economic conditions in the years to come.
Hélène de Lauzun —
Former ombudswoman Denisova has since admitted having “maybe exaggerated” in her stories, but wanted to “achieve the goal of convincing the world to provide weapons and pressure Russia.”
David Boos —
The visit from the three heads of state was mostly a symbolic gesture, as Ukraine is under an ultimatum from Russia and lacks weapons.
Hélène de Lauzun —
On the heels of a trial which saw two British men and Moroccan national receive death sentences for fighting pro-Russian forces in Ukraine, the leader of the break-away Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) has stated that he sees no grounds for a pardon of the condemned individuals.
Robert Semonsen —
If it happens, Ukraine’s accession to the status of “candidate” for EU membership does not mean the process will be accelerated.
Hélène de Lauzun —
Chancellor Nehammer said he believes that “emotion” should not be used to guide the decision—in his view, Ukraine’s rapid accession to EU member state status “is not realistic.”
Hélène de Lauzun —
Real heroes walk among us, and this remarkable story of a Ukrainian tennis player, Sergiy Stakhovsky, tells of one such man.
Gergő Kovács —
The British men who were sentenced to death said they were serving with the Ukrainian army and could thus claim certain rights as prisoners of war.
Harrison Pitt —
Tens of millions of tonnes of agricultural products have been stuck in Ukraine, creating a food shortage in the areas of the world that rely on Ukrainian exports, particularly Africa.
Bridget Ryder —
According to the non-profit, the Ukrainian refugees are having problems with the language. They face “economic and job uncertainty,” and “they cannot bear to live permanently on charity.”
Bridget Ryder —
“There have been these ridiculous ideas from European leaders that we should cede some of our land, but that’s not going to work. It’s never worked. They are not going to stop.”
Bridget Ryder —
Europol’s chief has said that the massive quantity of weapons supplied to Ukraine by EU countries could end up flowing back into the bloc, warning that such a scenario could precipitate a level of street violence previously only seen in Latin America.
Robert Semonsen —
The only thing that limits a great power is another great power. The UN is as impotent as the League of Nations, and no court, however lavishly decorated with flags, speaks louder than guns.
Daria Fedotova —
A misinformed ideal of humanitarianism has American and European ruling parties recklessly pushing open borders without considering the costs or long-term consequences—not just for the host country but also for the mass influx of immigrants.
Shea Bradley-Farrell —
In 1989, with the fall of what Ronald Reagan rightly called the “evil empire,” this magnificent Church of martyrs emerged from the catacombs of communism, not liquidated, not re-educated, but forged like gold in the furnace of persecution.
Fr. Benedict Kiely —
“I think conspiracy theories are proliferating because we can all feel the ground shifting under our feet but have no easy way to understand and make sense of that feeling of chaos.”—N.S. Lyons
Jonathon Van Maren —
Polish President Andrzej Duda chose to pay a surprise visit to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, May 22nd. Duda met personally with Zelensky and then gave a speech to the Ukrainian Parliament. It was the first time since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24th that a foreign leader had personally […]
Hélène de Lauzun —
The ring exchange agreement—which was never binding between the two parties—failed to materialize after Germany stated that could not fulfill Morawiecki’s government’s demands for the latest version of the Leopard tank.
Robert Semonsen —
On Thursday, May 19th, the EU Commission decided to allow gas importers to open ruble accounts for gas payments to Gazprombank. For a long time, the EU Commission had rejected the Russian demand for payment in rubles, as it was considered to violate EU sanctions against Russia. The condition for this turnaround is that European […]
David Boos —
Weak armies, illegal immigration, debt, energy dependence, and unbalanced trade are all undermining the European nation-state, argues Juan Ángel Soto Gómez.
Juan Ángel Soto Gómez —
After being pressured by the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and receiving anonymous threats, Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv had to cancel a performance of a work of Tchaikovsky in Germany.
David Boos —
Contrary to what many Western journalists and politicians persistently assume, there exists little continuity between Imperial Russia and the Soviet regime, just as there was no ideological or political identity between pre-war France and the Vichy regime.
Nikolai Tolstoy —
The fuel shortage is an additional strain on Ukrainians already under fire from Russia, many of whom are travelling either to return to homes they abandoned in the initial fear and shock of the Russian invasion, or to seek safety and shelter in another part of the country.
Bridget Ryder —
PM Orbán’s resolute neutrality has placed him in the cross hairs of Ukrainian ultranationalists
Robert Semonsen —
by Eugene Vodolazkin; translated by Marian Schwartz
Walden, NY: Plough Publishing House, 2022
J.C. Scharl —
Eurasianism, with its glorification of the Mongol Golden Horde and eastward orientation, tends to divorce Russia from its European heritage, a divorce that is incompatible with any drawing closer to Ukraine. Geography and natural resources will motivate political conflict, but identity and national construction will determine what social cleavages can be exploited by local and foreign agents in that conflict.
Carlos Perona Calvete —
After evading numerous requests by Ukraine for heavy weapons, the German governing parties have now acquiesced and voted for a parliamentary proposal for such a delivery, alongside training offers for Ukrainian soldiers on German soil.
David Boos —
There are a few things that the West can do. One is to follow the Latin motto “Si vis pacem, para bellum,” or “If you want peace, prepare for war.” This certainly applies to the Benelux, Germany, and Sweden, whose armed forces have been severely weakened over the past three decades.
Pieter Cleppe —
The position of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who believes that “more arms to Ukraine does not mean more war,” is also being defended by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Hélène de Lauzun —
In Eastern Germany, a soviet memorial for victims of the war and a memorial for victims of a concentration camp have been defaced. Besides Swastikas, pro-Ukrainian messages have been spray painted in blue and yellow.
David Boos —
Organic association and the principle of subsidiarity are the rescue of nations. They allow for the political articulation of common roots without alienating local cultural differentiation. They also permit overarching identities to be honored along with overlapping ones. Keeping this principle in mind, we may trace the history of relations between Moscow and Kyiv with an eye to how it could have been, and may yet, be applied.
Carlos Perona Calvete —
It is not possible for Europe to continue its transition into nothingness and decadence. We will not be able to meet the challenges—which are already violent today—if it remains ensconced in comfort, lies, a war on effort and excellence, gender madness, and the culture of death.
Jaime Mayor Oreja —
“We strongly believe that this procedure will take place in the coming weeks and that it will be positive for the history of our people,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, April 18th.
Sven R. Larson —
If Ukraine has indeed put the Moskva—a 12,500-ton guided missile cruiser—out of commission, at least for now, the victory is not only substantial but also iconic.
Bridget Ryder —
“As an American citizen, I can’t wrap my mind around this, how people who share the same faith—because Russia is predominantly Orthodox, and Ukraine is predominantly Orthodox—could be so evil to each other. But then, we have to think about Cain and Abel, he killed his brother, so, nothing new under the sun, unfortunately,” Rev. Tomson said.
Robert Semonsen —
The New York Times’ verification of the video’s authenticity comes amid recently surfaced video footage depicting the abuse of Russian POWs.
Robert Semonsen —
Following a decision by the German Conference of Minister-Presidents, Ukrainian refugees are now being treated as recognized refugees, giving them access to better healthcare, basic benefits, and the workforce. Critics fear this might create a new pull-factor within the EU.
David Boos —
Following a month-long occupation by Russian forces—and their subsequent withdrawal from the area—spiritual leaders at a seminary outside of Kyiv, have returned to discover that its statue of Our Lady of Fátima has been desecrated.
Robert Semonsen —
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—refusing to adopt policies that run counter to the interests of the Hungarian people—has agreed to pay Moscow in rubles for gas imports.
Robert Semonsen —
On April 7th, the EU Parliament voted to place an embargo on Russian oil, gas, and nuclear fuel, which was closely followed by a EU Commission ban on its coal exports. Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly suspended the country from its Human Rights Council.
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
Why are we allowing corporations to profit both from the desperation of people struggling with infertility and women in poverty?
Georgia L. Gilholy —
The anti-Spanish slant of the Agencia EFE tweet provoked a strong reaction from supporters of VOX on Twitter, as they called for Zelensky’s speech to the Spanish Parliament scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th, to be cancelled.
Bridget Ryder —
War plunges us into the depths of the darkness inflicted by man; but it also allows us to resurrect eternal forgotten truths. Among them is the reality that women are the sanctuary of life.
Hélène de Lauzun —
Russia pointed to the neutrality status of Sweden and Austria as possible models for Ukraine. Kyiv, however, emphasised that “only Kyiv could design a system that would be acceptable to Ukrainians.
Sven R. Larson —
To combat the disruptions in the agricultural sector, the European Commission has proposed €500 million in direct payments to farmers from the EU’s budget and allowing individual countries to complement this support by up to 200%.
Bridget Ryder —
When grilled about the ‘regime change’ comment by reporters on Monday, Biden was not willing to “walk anything back.” He explained he said it out of “moral outrage,” and that it was a “personal feeling.”
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
After Anastasia Kotvitska had been waved through by Ukrainian border officials, Hungarian customs discovered cash amounts of $28 million and €1.3 million, hidden in the suitcases during an inspection March 14.
David Boos —
A fiscal crisis would force U.S. Congress into unchartered territory. Never in modern history has this legislative body been forced to be austere with its resources. Tax cuts do not work anymore, and you cannot cut taxes when your creditors are running away from your debt. There are only two options: spending cuts, or tax hikes.
Sven R. Larson —
Moldova, Romania, and Hungary are welcoming Ukrainian refugees but, if the situation continues for long, tensions could come to the fore.
Francesco Giubilei, Daniele Dell'Orco —
The ages-old concept of the balance of power is supposedly understood by every international relations student. However, preoccupied with the ideas of globalism, American and European leaders often forget to take it into account when forming their policies.
Daria Fedotova —
Russia bears the full moral and economic burden for the war, but it is also clear that America’s neoconservative doctrine is one of the losers in that conflict. It is time for the foreign-policy elite in Washington to accept that neoconservatism served America well during the Cold War, but should now be gracefully retired.
Sven R. Larson —
Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missile has apparently destroyed an arms depot in western Ukraine—the use of hypersonic missiles and Russian missile advancement will likely shape the European rush to increase military budgets and purchase weaponry.
Carlos Perona Calvete —
The Italian government, through the Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini, announced its decision to finance the reconstruction of the Mariupol theatre as it was.
Hélène de Lauzun —
Ukrainian President Zelensky asked the German Bundestag for more sanctions against Russia and spoke about the “historical responsibility” of Germany to help Ukraine. Opposition leaders were outraged about the lack of debate in the Bundestag following the speech.
David Boos —
Germany has started to beat the drums of war, fueled by a desire to redeem its ancestral sins, and embracing the Russian scapegoat as a distraction from its failed energy politics.
David Boos —
A sizable minority of refugees who’ve arrived in France after allegedly fleeing the Russia-Ukraine conflict are not Ukrainian, with many of the new arrivals originating from Africa, the Middle East, Central and East Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, a French media outlet has claimed.
Robert Semonsen —
“The activities of politicians aimed at splitting or collaborating will not succeed, but will receive a harsh response,” Zelensky said.
Robert Semonsen —
Russia eventually took the lead and effectively left the Council. In the statement announcing their decision, Russian authorities emphasised the forced nature of their departure.
Hélène de Lauzun —
The act of consecration will be pronounced on Annunciation Day, Friday, March 25th, during the celebration of Penance that Pope Francis will preside over at 5pm in St Peter’s Basilica.
Hélène de Lauzun —
The initiative proves the advanced degree to which Eastern European countries are dedicated to supporting Ukraine, whereas Western leaders prefer to play it safe.
Hélène de Lauzun —
After being raped by two fellow refugees, an 18-year old from Ukraine has fled to Poland because she did not feel safe in Germany. Police warn against criminals trying to exploit women and children looking for shelter.
David Boos —
Animated by faith and patriotism and buoyed by an unkillable sense of humor, Ukrainians are thus far shocking the world by their steadfastness in the face of Russian aggression.
Jonathon Van Maren —
As I am writing these words, I can hear a battle raging on the other side of the Kyiv Sea. The worst thing about living close to the front line is not knowing where the next missile will land, but we are determined to carry on with our lives for as long as possible.
Daria Fedotova —
The WHO said it had advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in the country’s public health laboratories to prevent “any potential spills” and worried that continued fighting raised the risk of damage to those facilities. It would not say when it had made the recommendation, nor did it specify what kinds of pathogens or toxins were housed there.
Tristan Vanheuckelom —
The same experience with Soviet hegemony that has rendered Central European states immune, at some level, to the kind of decadence Western leadership favors, also led them to suspect Russia’s intentions.
Charles A. Coulombe —
Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers’ speech in the European Parliament on Putin and Ukraine: “Forcing millions to flee and tearing families apart is incompatible with ‘family values.'”
Charlie Weimers —
French President Emmanuel Macron was keen to display a smiling optimism by answering questions in English to international journalists in Versailles; a few minutes later, he was grave and serious in his address to French journalists, commenting in exactly the opposite terms.
Hélène de Lauzun —
