Europe News & Analysis

Europe

Russia’s relationships with Europe vary from warm, with trade partners such as Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia, to the frigid (most of the European Union and the UK). In between are lesser discussed regions in the Balkans with closer historical ties to Moscow than to Brussels. We examine some of these borderline areas and provide analysis and updates where appropriate along the Russia-European axis.

Srpska Bilateral Relations
Featured May 12, 2026

Russia – Republika Srpska Bilateral Relations Update: May 2026

Russia’s President Putin has met with the recently elected president of Republika Srpska, Sinisa Karan. The Republika is a largely autonomous part of Bosnia & Herzegovina, an EU candidate state in the Balkans. Consequently, the geopolitical situation largely created by the breakup of Yugoslavia remains highly complicated. The Republika wishes to continue relations with Moscow at a time when Bosnia & Herzegovina and the European Union does not. We discuss the current state of play and the bilateral relations between Moscow and Banja Luka.

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Putin
Featured May 10, 2026

Analysis of Putin’s May 9 Press Conference, His Meetings with Global South Leaders, and the Direction of Russia’s Pivot to the Global South

Russia’s President Putin gave a detailed speech on May 9 (Victory Day) in which he discussed his thoughts and Russia’s strategy as concerns its immediate direction towards the Global South. He commented specifically about Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia and China as well as Europe, and how he sees global developments pan out. This article will be of interest to all Russia-watchers, geostrategic analysts as well as politicians in the West and Global South.

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May 6, 2026

Kazakhstan Oil To Be Rerouted To Russia and Caspian Countries Instead Of Germany 

Kazakhstan is having to redirect oil exports flows away from Germany due to Ukrainian refusals to open the Druzhba pipeline to the EU. Supplies are instead being redirected to Russia and the Caspian states. Kazakhstan has been supplying about 2.5% of Germany’s total annual oil imports, with the current situation increasing more pressure on Germany’s fragile economic state.

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May 1, 2026

The Fundamental Differences Between the USSR and the Russian Federation

Western critics sometimes compare contemporary Russia with the Soviet Union. In this article we discuss the economic development of the USSR and compare it to the development of the Russian Federation. We underline why they are fundamentally different, the economic and social reasonings for this, and why Moscow is not intent on ‘recreating’ the USSR.

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Belarus BRICS
April 29, 2026

Belarus To Join BRICS New Development Bank

Belarus, which was accepted as a BRICS Partner nation in 2024, is making plans to join the BRICS New Development Bank. Doing so will open up alternative opportunities to raise capital for infrastructure and related developments as an alternative to capital markets in ‘unfriendly’ nations and to be able to do so without using the US dollar or Euro.

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Helium export
April 15, 2026

Russia Inserts Itself Into Global Semi-Conductor Manufacturing Output By Banning Helium Exports

Global supplies of helium have dropped by 30% after Qatar, the world’s largest producer has had exports dry up as a result of the Iran war. The United States is now the largest global exporter and is making huge mark ups on supplies to its allies. Russia is the world’s third largest exporter and has banned exports to ‘unfriendly countries’. Helium is a critical gas for use in semi-conductor and other hi-tech manufacturing. This is very bad news for European and some East Asian IT manufacturers, with global ramifications.

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