EU plans to beef up its defence sector have been welcomed. The White Paper on defence states that “Europe faces an acute and growing threat.” It says, “The only way we can ensure peace is to have the readiness to deter those who would do us harm.” “We have many strong foundations such as our…
On 11 March there was a crucial meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The discussions marked a significant step in the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. This meeting, set against the backdrop of the ongoing war, could potentially shape future actions in…
Photo by Jørgen Håland on Unsplash Recent developments between the USA and Russia have sparked debates about the future of their relations. From the appointment of Alexander Darchiyev as Russia’s new ambassador to the US to reports that the Trump administration may share confidential data with Moscow, it seems a shift is under way. However,…
Photo by Klim Musalimov on Unsplash The Kremlin has long been playing a dangerous game, not only in Ukraine but across the broader European continent. With a clear goal to manipulate political processes and weaken Ukraine’s leadership, Moscow has been actively undermining President Zelensky’s legitimacy and pushing for his removal. This is no longer just…
Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash Recent initiatives by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine through dialogue, rather than through Russia’s defeat on the battlefield, present Moscow with a unique opportunity to break free from its strategic deadlock. While Russia projects confidence in its strength, it is increasingly aware that continuing…
Photo by D R on Unsplash EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has convened key European industry leaders, social partners, and stakeholders for the launch of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Steel sector. This marks the start of a collaborative process to address critical challenges faced by the sector and ensure its continued success as…
Photo by Adrien Wodey on Unsplash Our sources in the Kremlin report that the Presidential Administration of Russia is overwhelmed with glee anticipating approaching victory. This has been caused by the resumption of a Russian American dialogue, coming from telephone calls between President Putin and Trump on February 12, contacts between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov…
Here in Belgium we think that we understand surrealism. But it can still be confusing, it can shock and it can also lead to the discovery of unexpected and unwelcome interpretations that change our view of the world. In my opinion there are four clear outcomes from last Friday’s highly publicised shouting match televised at…
The Brussels-based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) has welcomed a 15 January 2025 decision by the High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest to uphold a July 2024 decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal to fully exonerate Gabriel Popoviciu. Romania’s High Court of Justice and Cassation hearing was the final step in…
Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash As the EU faces rising concerns over the possibility of a grand deal between the United States, China, and Russia, there is an increasing fear that Europe and Ukraine could be sidelined in negotiations, potentially forced to bear the financial burden of such an arrangement. This moment calls for…
