Amid the war against Ukraine and economic troubles, the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party has used regional elections to tighten its grip across Russia. Amid allegations of fraud, incumbent governors were awarded victory in all 19 Russian regions where elections for the office were held.
The European Commission will present a new sanctions package proposal on Russia to the club’s 27 member states early next week to further ratchet up pressure on the Kremlin, including measures aimed at curtailing Russian oil, which US President Donald Trump has called on Europe to stop purchasing.
As attention focused on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the SCO and a military parade last week in China, Beijing inked a slew of new deals worth billions of dollars with Central Asian governments and businesses, particularly those in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Russia’s drone incursion into Polish territory on September 10 failed to result in much physical damage on the ground, but it did uncover a major hole in Europe's defense forces: The allies don’t have cost-effective counter-measures to deal with low-cost Russian attacks.
The military drills come amid heightened tensions along NATO's flank, with some analysts and officials viewing them as another opportunity to test the alliance's readiness.
Israel’s brazen attack in Qatar, a key US ally, will be felt across the Middle East, including Iran, experts say.
It was no surprise that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen came out swinging in all directions, though notably to the east, as she delivered her annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech in Strasbourg.
Israel’s first strike on Qatari soil has sent shockwaves through Tehran, fueling doubts about diplomacy with the West. Iranian commentators say the attack exposes the limits of negotiations, while some see it as an opportunity for Iran to bolster its regional influence.
What happens now depends on several things: What exactly were Russia’s intentions were? Were the drones were intentionally fired, or were they jammed and drifted off course? Will NATO be more aggressive in its approach to Russian aerial weaponry?
Russia’s Gazprom made headlines in Beijing last week as it announced progress on the ambitious gas pipeline. But analysts who spoke to RFE/RL say that the megaproject is still a long way off from ever getting built.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou appears set to lose a vote of confidence in the National Assembly on September 8, an outcome that would increase instability in one of Europe's largest countries while limiting the room of maneuver for the embattled French President Emmanuel Macron.
With peace seeming as distant as ever, the United States is huddling with the European Union about potential new sanctions against Moscow. Will the war grind on into 2026, or is there a chance for a change? Here’s what led to this moment – and what to watch in the coming days and weeks.
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