European Union

Poland announced steps Wednesday to end all Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, AP reported. Poland has already largely reduced its dependence on Russian oil, Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, adding that he expects coal imports from Russia will be ended in May. Poland argues that money from oil and gas exports are fueling Russia's war machine and that that should stop.

When Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, the Russian ambassador to NATO and the EU named it one of the Kremlin’s “Trojan horses”, referring to the power Russia could exert on the EU through its new ties to Brussels.

RT France v Council
Opération militaire en Ukraine : le président du Tribunal rejette la demande de RT France visant à suspendre les sanctions adoptées par le Conseil

EU lawmakers have been spammed with hundreds of emails from the crypto community attempting to influence a key committee vote on Thursday (31 March) regarding the information requirements on the transfers of cryptocurrencies. The legislation is a recast of the...

There were signs of rapprochement in the negotiations on the Ukraine war on Tuesday. Russia said it plans to reduce its attacks on Kyiv and concentrate on eastern Ukraine. Ukraine formulated conditions for agreeing to neutrality, including the establishment of a group of states that will guarantee the country's security. Europe's press remains very sceptical.

The planned meeting of the Visegrád Group in Budapest has been cancelled. Poland and the Czech Republic had declined to participate on the grounds that Hungary's prime minister has not sufficiently distanced himself from Russia. Europe's press discusses whether this means the end of the V4 format.

Turkey was an obvious choice as the venue for the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia: it shares a border with both countries. Turkey is a member of Nato and supported Russia's opponents in Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh, but it also has frequent quarrels with the EU over gas, Cyprus and refugees. As a mediator, it has now gained additional clout. Commentators are less than enthusiastic.

With the war in Ukraine, relations between Russia and the rest of Europe have reached their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. All EU countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia have been put on a list of "hostile countries" by Putin. The European press looks to the past and reflects on how Europe should prepare for the future.