USAGM agrees to partially fund RFE/RL as judge weighs case over Trump cuts
RFE/RL sued USAGM on March 18 over the termination of grant funding, arguing that the step violates federal laws and the U.S. Constitution.
Eastern Europe
Lukashenko 'inaugurated' after extending his rule in 'sham' elections
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko began his seventh term in power on March 25 after declaring himself the winner of the January elections broadly seen as neither fair nor free.
Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko signs security treaty, pulling Belarus further into Russia’s orbit
Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko visits Moscow, enacting a security treaty and signing a range of agreements that pull Belarus further into Russia’s orbit. U.S. President Donald Trump slashes RFE/RL funding in another blow to Belarusian media in exile. Latvia restricts movement at last open border crossing with
Polish right takes hard line on Ukraine ahead of presidential vote
With the Polish presidential elections just two months away, two of the country's leading right-wing candidates have become increasingly antagonistic toward Ukraine and its leadership. Kyiv can ill afford another hostile head of state among its key partners, as U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign policy shift has already thrown
EU approves over $2 billion in economic support for Moldova
The Reform and Growth Facility, which includes 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in low-interest loans and 385 million euros ($420 million) in grants, will cover the period of 2025-2027 and is part of the EU's long-term Moldova Growth Plan.
Poland, Baltics to withdraw from anti-personnel mine ban treaty
The defense ministers of the four nations argued that the security situation in the region has "fundamentally deteriorated" and that military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus have "significantly increased."
Lithuania suspects Russia behind arson attacks in Vilnius and Warsaw last year
The Lithuanian prosecutor’s office alleges that Russia's military intelligence formed a special group to carry out arson attacks across Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia.
Serbia needs 'protecting' from repeat of Ukraine's EuroMaidan, Vucic claims
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on March 16 drew comparisons between the anti-government protests in Serbia and Ukraine's 2014 EuroMaidan revolution, vowing to "protect and defend" the country from such an event.
Belarus Weekly: Belarus drops out of top 20 global arms exporters list
Russia proposed building a drone factory in Belarus with an annual capacity of 100,000 units. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko appoints new government ahead of his seventh “inauguration.” Belarus cracks down on the unemployed amid workforce shortages. UN experts urge Belarus to end the incommunicado detention of political prisoner Siarhei
JD Vance says he would be 'shocked' if Trump agreed to station US nukes in Poland
Polish President Andrzej Duda has said such a move would be justified given Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.
Polish president urges US to deploy nuclear weapons in Poland
"The borders of NATO moved east in 1999, so 26 years later there should also be a shift of the NATO infrastructure east. For me, this is obvious," Polish President Andrzej Duda said.
Despite Russian-backed Georgescu barred from presidential race, Romania's far-right still aim to win
Protests erupted in downtown Bucharest following the Central Electoral Bureau's decision to ban Russian-backed far-right politician Calin Georgescu from running in the upcoming re-run presidential elections. Georgescu, who is openly supported by the Russian and the U.S. administrations, said this was a "direct hit against democracy." Following the announcement
Lukashenko appoints Alexander Turchin as Belarus's new PM
Alexander Turchin, who previously served as head of the Minsk regional executive committee, held key government positions, including Chief of Staff of the Council of Ministers in 2016 and First Deputy Prime Minister in 2018-2019.
Romanian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu barred from running in presidential election
Romania's electoral bureau has disqualified far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from running in the presidential election re-run, multiple Romanian channels announced on March 9.
Belarus Weekly: Belarus, Russia ratify security pact, expanding nuclear umbrella, military integration
Belarus and Russia ratified the Union State Security Pact, expanding the nuclear umbrella and military integration. Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko invites U.S President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Minsk for peace talks. Belarus criminalizes sharing information on military movements and expands in
As protests engulf Serbia, President Vucic looks for support East and West
Editor's Note: Following a number of attacks against peaceful protestors in Serbia, the Kyiv Independent agreed to not publish the last names of people who gave comments for this story. BELGRADE, Serbia — Thousands of protestors walked 300 kilometers on March 1 from Belgrade to the southern city of Nis to
Lithuania exits Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Lithuanian parliament voted to exit the treaty last July, leading to Vilnius submitting documents for withdrawal in the autumn of that year. The six-month deadline for leaving the convention expired on March 6.
Belarus Weekly: Russia, Belarus confirm Zapad-2025 joint military drills in September
After 3 years of full-scale war, EU imposes sanctions on Belarus' Integral micro-electronics producer for supplying Russia with microchips for its missiles. Russia, Belarus confirm they will hold Zapad-2025 joint military drills in September. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko extends the power of local authorities allowing them to approve heads of
Poland to adapt all civilian airports for dual-military use
"Every airport must be adapted and in some way adapted to the possibility of cooperating and working with the military," Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Feb. 25.
Moscow demanded NATO withdrawal from eastern Europe during US-Russia talks, FT reports
The U.S. delegation reportedly rejected the demand, but concerns remain over what concessions President Donald Trump might consider to secure a deal on ending war with Russia.
Romanian President Iohannis announces resignation to avert political crisis
Far-right opposition parties submitted an initiative to the Romanian parliament to impeach the president, as Klaus Iohannis remained in office longer than the prescribed term after the results of the country's first round of presidential election had been annulled.
Russia's oil tanker crash causes 'worst ecological catastrophe,' with Black Sea in need of a decade to recover
On the night of Dec. 15, 2024, two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, sank in the Kerch Strait, a narrow maritime connection between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, off the coast of occupied Crimea. Both vessels were constructed for service on rivers, not on the open
Russia’s new naval base raises fears of Georgia’s involvement in Ukraine war, WSJ reports
Ochamchire, more than 700 kilometers southeast of the nearest Ukrainian-controlled territory, could provide Moscow with a naval base that remains largely beyond the range of Ukraine’s existing long-range strikes.
Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko gets himself reelected for 7th consecutive term
Aleksandr Lukashenko has awarded himself a seventh term as president of Belarus, with the West calling the so-called vote a sham and introducing additional sanctions. Belarusian political observer Artsiom Shraibman told the Kyiv Independent that Lukashenko faces uncertain future after the vote. Hungary refuses to sign joint EU statement condemning
'A farce' — Foreign Ministry condemns sham election in Belarus
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko turned the country's presidential election into "a one-man political show," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said on Jan. 27.
After Lukashenko's latest sham election, exiled Belarusians reflect on their lost revolution
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the victor in the country's latest so-called presidential elections on Jan. 26, in which no political opposition was allowed to take part. The country's authorities claim Lukashenko won 86.82% of the vote, securing a seventh consecutive term in power. Despite international condemnation and
Lukashenko frees 23 more Belarusian political prisoners
Nearly 1,300 prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, Viasna Human Rights Center reported.
Partners, not allies: What to expect from Russia-Iran agreement set to be signed on Jan. 17
For Moscow, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Russia on Jan. 17 is a diplomatic victory. The trip's centerpiece will be the finalization of a long-heralded partnership deal between Russia and Iran, signed by Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. The agreement is the latest chapter in
Will Transnistria's gas crisis lead to its collapse and reintegration into Moldova?
By halting natural gas supplies to Moldova on Jan. 1, Russia created an unprecedented economic crisis in the Russian-occupied part of the country — Transnistria. The crisis prompted a question: will the breakaway region, occupied by Russia since 1992, survive without Russian gas? Free-of-charge Russian gas had been the backbone of
As Russia cuts Transnistria from gas, stranded locals search for someone to blame
VARNIȚA, Moldova — The buzzing sound of chainsaws and generators is now common in Varnița, a village of 5,000 that borders Moldova's Russian-controlled region of Transnistria. Located next to the Russian-controlled city of Bender (Tighina), the village is subordinated to Chișinău but depends on the neighbouring breakaway region for its
US sanctions Orban ally Antal Rogan for corruption, abuse of power
Antal Rogan is the first high-ranking Hungarian official sanctioned by the U.S. under the Magnitsky Act, which targets individuals involved in serious human rights abuses and corruption.
Vladimir Putin's 25-year-long reign over Russia in photos
Russian President Boris Yeltsin officially resigned on Dec. 31, 1999, anointing Vladimir Putin, then prime minister, as his successor. Partially due to his hardline stance against terrorism and the successful conduct of the Second Chechen War, Putin won the March 26, 2000 presidential elections. He has held on to power
(Updated: )
Most popular
Editors' Picks
Who is Sergey Beseda, Russian spy handler leading talks with US?
What were the Minsk Agreements and why did they fail to bring peace in Ukraine?
A lonely Ukrainian stork is waiting for his girlfriend and thousands of people are watching live
