DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy arrives in Spain to meet European leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint news briefing with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 28, 2023. "Our joint goal is to ensure the security and stability of our common European home," Zelenskiy said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We are working together with partners on enhancing the European security architecture, particularly regional security. Ukraine responded by setting up a temporary "humanitarian corridor" for cargo vessels, and several ships have left Ukraine's Black Sea ports since. "This should be a productive day for Ukraine and Europe as a whole," Zelenskiy added.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Jens Stoltenberg, Gleb Garanich, Joe Biden, Zelenskiy, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: NATO, REUTERS, Political Community, U.S, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Spanish, Granada, Russia, Europe

The village and other parts of the region were seized by Russia early in the war and recaptured by Ukraine in September 2022. The village is only 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Kupiansk, a key focus of the Russian military effort. Ukraine’s air force said that the country’s air defenses intercepted 24 out of 29 Iranian-made drones that Russia launched at the Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions. Roman Starovoit said that Ukrainian drones attacked infrastructure facilities in several areas, resulting in power cuts. He also said that Ukrainian forces fired artillery at the border town of Rylsk, wounding a resident and damaging several houses.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Ihor Klymenko, Andrii Yermak, Oleh, ”, Biden, Russia ”, Andriy Raykovych, Oleksandr Prokudin, Roman Starovoit, Dasha Litvinova Organizations: Internal, Kharkiv Gov, Emergency, West, Political Community, Foreign, U.S . Congress, Gov, ___ Associated Press Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, Russian, Kyiv, Spain, Hroza, Kharkiv, Russia, Kupiansk, Granada, “ Russia, United States, Washington, Europe, Moscow, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Kherson, Krasnohorivka, Donetsk, Beryslav, Russia's Kursk, Rylsk, ___, Tallinn, Estonia

GRANADA, Spain, Oct 5 (Reuters) - European leaders are expected to assure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of long-term support on Thursday after U.S. President Joe Biden voiced fears that Republican infighting in Congress could hurt American policy on continuing aid to Kyiv. Zelenskiy is expected to attend a summit in the Spanish city of Granada of the European Political Community - a forum to foster cooperation among more than 40 countries established last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a general election at the weekend after pledging to halt military aid to Ukraine. In Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last month his country was no longer arming Ukraine and was focusing on rebuilding its own weapon stocks. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to attend the summit and European officials said they were keen to find ways to help his government cope with the immediate humanitarian crisis and provide political and economic support.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Zelenskiy, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Scholz, Ilham Aliyev, Macron, Charles Michel, Nikol Pashinyan, Andrew Gray, Andreas Rinke, Grant McCool Organizations: Political, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, Senate, European Union, NATO, Kyiv, European, EU, Baku, Thomson Locations: GRANADA, Spain, Kyiv, Zelenskiy, Spanish, Granada, Ukraine, Europe, U.S, Slovakia, Poland, BALKANS, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Berlin

☆ Russian missile strike on Ukraine village kills 51 during memorial to fallen soldier
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Vitalii Hnidyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It also appeared to be one of the biggest civilian death tolls in any single Russian strike. Some of them were mourners gathering in the cafe after a service for a fallen soldier from the village. [1/3]Rescuers work at a site of a Russian military strike in the village of Hroza, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, October 5, 2023. The missile hit during a service marking the reburial in his home village of a soldier who had died in action elsewhere. This is a terrible tragedy," Klymenko told Ukrainian television.

Persons: Zelenskiy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy, Serhiy Bolvinov, Oleksandr Mukhovatyi, Mukhovatyi, Ihor Klymenko, Klymenko, Rustem Umerov, Olena Harmash, Yuliia, Timothy Heritage, Andrew Heavens, Ron Popeski David Gregorio, Rod Nickel Organizations: Suspilne, Regional, Political Community, REUTERS, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Kyiv, Spain HROZA, Ukraine, Russian, Ukrainian, Hroza, Kharkiv, Spain, Moscow, Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, Russia

GRANADA, Spain (AP) — Almost 50 European leaders used a summit in the southern Spanish city of Granada on Thursday to stress that they stand by Ukraine at a time when Western resolve appears somewhat weakened. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that beside maintaining such unity, more military aid to get through the winter was essential. And especially now that questions about continued support are growing in the United States too. “I am very confident of support for Ukraine from the United States. What the United States is working on is the timing," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Biden, ” Zelenskyy, Robert Fico, Hungary’s, Pedro Sánchez, “, Ursula von der Leyen, Josep Borrell, doesn’t, Putin, Borrell, Putin's, ”, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan, Vjosa Osmani, Aleksandar Vucic, Osmani, wantssanctions, Raf Casert, Aritz Parra, Ciarán Giles, Joseph Wilson, Semini Organizations: Political, U.S, Congress, White, Republicans, European Union, Kyiv, Armenian, Yerevan, Kosovo, Serbian, Belgrade, Serbia Locations: GRANADA, Spain, Spanish, Granada, Ukraine, United States, Europe, Kyiv, Slovakia, Russia, U.S, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Serbia, “, Kosovo, Brussels, Madrid, Barcelona, Tirana, Albania

Not only in the EU but in all of Europe," Zelenskiy said on his arrival, warning of Russian "disinformation attacks". "It does worry me," Biden said on Wednesday, though he added that a majority of U.S. lawmakers continued to support funding Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a parliamentary election on pledges of halting military aid to Ukraine, while Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said Warsaw was no longer arming Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday he was "very confident" that U.S. support for Ukraine would continue. Many EU leaders have condemned the Azerbaijani operation, which triggered an exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Persons: Zelenskiy, Spain Zelenskiy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, U.N, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Pedro Sanchez, Ilham Aliyev, Belen Carreno, Andreas Rinke, Anna Pruchnicka, Gareth Jones Organizations: Political, EU, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, European Commission, Kyiv, Polish, European Union, NATO, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Spain, Europe, Balkans, Caucasus, Granada, GRANADA, Kyiv, Spanish, Ukraine, Norway, Albania, Russia, Poland, Brussels, U.S, Slovakia, Warsaw, EU, East, Africa, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Baku, Berlin

Decision-making is key because the EU now requires unanimity on foreign and security policy, taxes, EU finances, some areas of justice and home affairs and social security and protection. EU agriculture policy would need to be revamped because the admission of agriculture powerhouse Ukraine would dramatically change current EU direct payments to farmers. A similarly major change would happen to the EU's regional policy, under which poorer EU members receive money to raise their standard of living. The agriculture and regional funds make up two thirds of the EU budget, which totals roughly 1% of the bloc's gross national income a year. The paper, which polarised EU governments when first discussed on Sept. 19, said some countries in the EU should be allowed to form closer cooperation than others, forming four tiers of European integration.

Persons: Laurence Boone, Anna Luhrmann, Tiago Antunes, Jan Strupczewski Organizations: Union, EU, Guiding, Franco, Political, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Spanish, Murcia, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, Kosovo, EU, France

☆ France's Macron to Meet UK Opposition Leader Starmer on Sept. 19
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - Britain's opposition leader Keir Starmer will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Sept. 19 as he builds up his foreign policy experience ahead of a general election expected next year which opinion polls show he is likely to win. The meeting in Paris is due to take place the day before King Charles travels to France for a state visit. Since being Labour leader, he has ruled out a holding a second referendum, saying it would reopen "old wounds". Although meetings between British opposition leaders and foreign leaders are relatively rare, Starmer did meet with the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last year. Sunak's press secretary said of Macron's meeting with Starmer: "It's not unusual for opposition leaders to meet world leaders."

Persons: Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, King Charles, Rishi Sunak's, Starmer, Olaf Scholz, Sunak's, Michel Rose, Tassilo Hummel, Andrew MacAskill, Alex Richardson, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: PARIS, Starmer's Labour Party, Conservatives, European Union, Conservative, Britain, EU, Labour Locations: Paris, France

☆ Zelenskiy says he struck key deal on pilot training in France
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron speak during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova June 1, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 3 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had struck a "very important agreement on training our pilots in France" in conversation with President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday. France does not have the F-16 fighter jets Ukraine has recently been promised by Denmark and the Netherlands. Zelenskiy said he and Macron had also discussed what France could do to help protect the Ukrainian city and region of Odesa, critical to grain exports, but did not elaborate. The French foreign ministry said last month that it would reinforce its military support for Ukraine, notably in strengthening air defence capabilities.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Emmanuel Macron, Mimi, Zelenskiy, Macron, Elaine Monaghan, Nick Zieminski, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Presidential Press Service, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Bulboaca, Moldova, France, Ukraine, Denmark, Netherlands, Ukrainian

☆ Moldovan president says audit disproves $800 million Gazprom debt claim: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Moldovan President Maia Sandu attends a press conference during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 3 (Reuters) - An audit carried out by an international firm has disproved Russian gas giant Gazprom's claim that the Moldovan government owes it $800 million, Moldovan President Maia Sandu was quoted as saying on Sunday. The former Soviet republic, situated between Ukraine and EU member Romania, used to buy Russian natural gas. But in late 2021 Gazprom and its Moldovan subsidiary said it had accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in debt which had to be repaid to ensure further stable supplies. Gazprom put the debt at $709 million a year ago, although the sum might have increased with the addition of interest.

Persons: Maia Sandu, Mimi, Vladislav Culiomza, Sandu, Moldova's, Ros Russell Organizations: REUTERS, Moldovan, Gazprom, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bulboaca, Moldova, Soviet, Ukraine, Romania, Chisinau

☆ Russia's 'least capable' troops aren't in Ukraine, but they're still causing problems next door, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Moldova, next door to Ukraine, has been under pressure from Russia for decades. Amid the war in Ukraine, Kyiv and Western officials say Moscow is stepping up its interference. As a result of a 1992 war between Moldovan forces and Transnistrian separatists, Russian troops entered the breakaway region to support the separatists. Following that war, Transnistria gained a form of autonomy. SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty ImagesMoldova declared a state of emergency after Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, and it remains in effect.

Persons: —, that's, John Sullivan, SERGUEI VORONIN, Chișinău, Maia Sandu, Diego Herrera Carcedo, SERGEI GAPON, Moldova's, John Kirby, Kirby, Pierre Crom, Thomas de Waal, Dara Massicot, Massicot, Jamar Marcel Pugh, Sandu, Ursula von der Leyen, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Georgetown University, Getty, Moldovan, NATO, EU, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images Moldova, White House National Security Council, Carnegie, RAND Corporation, US Army National Guard, European Commission, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn Locations: Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Transnistria, Kyiv, Western, Moscow, Soviet Union, Romania, Europe, Baltic, Poland, Bender, Transnistrian, Chisinau, May, Lithuania, Sweden, AFP, Russian, Carnegie Europe, NATO, Bulgaria

☆ Zelenskyy says 'counteroffensive, defensive actions' taking place in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds a press conference during the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Bulboaca, on June 1, 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions were underway against Russian forces, asserting that his top commanders were in a "positive" mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the front line. Zelennsky said that "the counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. This is a nuclear power plant's safest operating mode. Energoatom employees are still working at the power plant, although it remains controlled by the Russians.

Persons: Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Justin Trudeau, Vladimir Putin's, Zelennsky, Trudeau, Energoatom, Natalia Humeniuk, Oleh Syniehubov, Dmytro Lunin, Lunin, Ruslan Strilets, Oleksandr Prokudin, Prokudin, Martin Griffiths, Olaf Scholz, Putin —, —, Scholz, Putin Organizations: Political, Russian, Canadian, Putin, Ukraine, Ukraine's, Staff, International Atomic Energy Agency, Emergency Service, Gov, Associated Locations: Ukraine, Bulboaca, Canada, Moscow, Ukraine's, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian, Russian, Odesa, Kharkiv, Poltava, Russia

☆ 'Everyone can see the reality' in Ukraine except for Putin, UK defense minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands after a meeting, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 10, 2022. British Defense Minister Ben Wallace on Friday said Vladimir Putin is "at risk of losing everything" if Russia does not withdraw its forces from Ukraine. In a busy week for diplomacy, European leaders met in Moldova in recent days for the European Political Community summit, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Defense ministers from around the world gathered in Singapore on Friday for the Shangri-La Dialogue Defense Summit. Moscow was meanwhile hit by drone strikes earlier this week, with President Vladimir Putin claiming the attacks targeted Russian civilians, while the country's foreign ministry vowed to respond with "the harshest possible measures."

Persons: Ben Wallace, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Wallace, it's, CNBC's, CNBC's Sri Jegarajah Organizations: British, European, Ukrainian, NATO, Dialogue Defense, CNBC, Storm, U.K, CNBC's Sri, UN Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Moldova, Oslo, Singapore, Ukrainian, Russian, Moscow

[1/2] An Italian member of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) looks on while standing guard in Leposavic, Kosovo, June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Ognen TeofilovskiBULBOACA, Moldova, June 1 (Reuters) - The presidents of Serbia and Kosovo insisted on Thursday they want to defuse a violent crisis in northern Kosovo but showed little sign of backing down from their opposing positions. Violence flared on Monday after Kosovo authorities, backed by special police units, installed ethnic Albanian mayors in offices in northern municipalities. But he said Kosovo authorities should withdraw "alleged mayors" from the north and declared the Kosovo special police units were there illegally. Vucic said he did not even know who was coming to the summit from Kosovo.

Persons: Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic, Vjosa Osmani, Osmani, Vucic, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Albin Kurti, Macron, Scholz, Jens Stoltenberg, Andrew Gray, Fatos Bytyci, Ivana Sekularac, Sabine Siebold, John Irish, Daria Sito, Edmund Blair Organizations: NATO, Kosovo Force, REUTERS, Kosovo, European, Political, Thomson Locations: Italian, Leposavic, Kosovo, BULBOACA, Moldova, Serbia, Belgrade, Moldovan, European Union, United States, Oslo

☆ UK PM Rishi Sunak touts 'very strong partnership' with U.S. ahead of Washington visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUK PM Rishi Sunak touts 'very strong partnership' with U.S. ahead of Washington visitU.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to CNBC's Silvia Amaro in Moldova at the meeting of the European Political Community.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: U.S, Political Locations: Washington, Moldova

Violence flared on Monday after Kosovo authorities, backed by special police units, installed ethnic Albanian mayors in offices in northern municipalities. Speaking after the meeting with Vucic, Osmani accused the Serbian leader of "whining and complaining and ... not telling the truth". But she said Kosovo could hold new elections in the north with Serb participation if they were triggered legally. Earlier in the day, neither leader had expressed any desire to meet with the other, before relenting under international pressure. Vucic said Kosovo authorities should withdraw "alleged mayors" from the north and declared the Kosovo special police units were there illegally.

Persons: Vjosa, Aleksandar Vucic, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Vucic, Osmani, Macron, Scholz, Mimi, Vladislav Culiomza Macron, Albin Kurti, Jens Stoltenberg, Fatos Bytyci, Ivana Sekularac, Sabine Siebold, Tassilo Hummel, Daria Sito, Edmund Blair, Daniel Wallis Organizations: EU, Kosovo, NATO, Political, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: BULBOACA, Moldova, Kosovo, Serbia, France, Germany, United States, Serbian, Belgrade, Paris, Berlin, Bulboaca, Oslo

☆ British PM Rishi Sunak says Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday that Ukraine's "rightful place" is within the NATO military alliance. Sunak said he agreed with comments made earlier Thursday by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that Ukraine is on the path toward NATO membership. "I agree with the NATO Secretary-General: Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO," Sunak told CNBC's Silvia Amaro. Britain's prime minister said that allied nations were sending a "strong signal" to Russian President Vladimir Putin that they would safeguard Ukraine's security arrangements for the long term. Sunak was speaking in Moldova, where heads of state from EU and non-EU countries are gathered for the second annual meeting of the European Political Community.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine's, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, Britain's, Vladimir Putin, we're Organizations: NATO, EU, Political Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Moldova, EU

☆ Moscow does not have a 'veto against NATO enlargement,' NATO's Stoltenberg says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference to present the next North Atlantic Council (NAC) Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on April 3, 2023. Kenzo Tribouillard | AFP | Getty ImagesNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that all NATO allies agree that Russia cannot prevent Ukraine's eventual membership of the military alliance. Speaking to reporters ahead of an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo, Stoltenberg said all allies agreed that "NATO's door is open for new members." "All allies also agree that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance, and all allies agree that it is for the NATO allies and Ukraine to decide when Ukraine becomes a member," he said. "It is not for Moscow to have a veto against NATO enlargement, but most importantly, all allies agree that the most urgent and important task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Kenzo Tribouillard, Stoltenberg, Vladimir, Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: NATO, North Atlantic Council, NAC, Foreign Affairs, AFP, Getty, Political Locations: Brussels, Russia, Oslo, Ukraine, Moscow, Vilnius, Lithuania, EU, NATO, Moldova, Europe

[1/2] A view of a polling station sign at Barley Town House, which is acting as a polling station for local elections in Royston, Britain, May 4, 2023. REUTERS/Peter CziborraLONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Voters in England will cast their ballots in local elections on Thursday in the first major electoral test for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following a year when the governing Conservatives have suffered a cascade of scandals, strikes and economic chaos. But his party is still forecast to suffer heavy losses when the results are announced on Friday. "But if (Labour) want to be on course to win the next election, they should be hoping to get a lead in national vote share of 10 points or so." This will be the first set of elections in England where voters will be required to show a form of photographic identification to vote.

It was a far cry from the barbs Macron traded with Boris Johnson when he was in Downing Street. The French foreign minister at the time, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said France had been "stabbed in the back". Macron's hardball tactics to ensure French fishermen got a good deal had made him the bete noire of British tabloids. But even before news of the AUKUS deal he was incensed by Johnson's decision to leak details of their conversation to the press, a French official said. A French official let out a sigh of relief after it wrapped up: "It went well, didn't it?"

☆ Analysis: Scotland's Sturgeon bows out at 'critical moment' for independence fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

While Sturgeon said she was "firmly of the view that there is now majority support for independence in Scotland", the polls suggest there is more work to do. In the aftermath of the court ruling, some polls showed a majority support for independence, but that has recently come down back towards 2014 levels. "If that stops being the case, then that really could knock them back, and really could damage the cause of Scottish independence." "The movement has been left with no clear strategy for independence," Salmond, who now leads the Alba party, said. "Voters see no clear successor to (Sturgeon) - it illustrates how dominant a figure she has been for so long," pollster Mark Diffley said.

☆ German chancellor's indecision on sending tanks to Ukraine has created a new word in Western war room politics: Scholzing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has faced criticism for delaying the delivery of tanks to Ukraine. Scholz's indecision became the topic of Ukrainian memes that coined the term "Scholzing." "Scholzing" means to communicate good intentions, but find or invent reasons to delay action. As Scholz spent weeks hesitating — and facing international pressure — over sending advanced Leopard 2 tanks to battle Russian forces in Ukraine, his name took on a new meaning. He also insisted the move be tied to a United States commitment to send their own Abrams tanks to the frontlines.

Persons: Валгалли

☆ Explainer: What's at stake in Turkey's upcoming elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THIS ELECTION FOR TURKEY... Opposition parties have pledged to restore central bank independence, bring back parliamentary government and introduce a new constitution enshrining the rule of law. Meanwhile Turkey's top court is hearing a case to shut down the third-largest parliamentary party, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), and has frozen some of its accounts. Once campaigning starts, opposition parties may find it harder to get their message heard. Though the election deadline is mid-June, Erdogan's party has said they may be brought forward.

☆ Why isn't Ukraine already in NATO? Here's what it takes to join the 30-country alliance
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ukraine's pursuit of NATO membership has been cited as a key factor in Russia's invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long been vocal about his country's desire to secure both NATO membership and additional assistance. "So there were some formal reasons why the Alliance could say that Ukraine was not ready yet to join the Alliance." Will Finland and Sweden join NATO? Both countries submitted official letters of application to join NATO in May 2022 and were formally invited to join the alliance in June.

☆ NATO could invoke Article 4 after Russian missiles struck Poland. Here's what that means.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The incident could invoke NATO Article 4, which allows any member to call for a consultation when threatened. Several NATO countries previously invoked Article 4 after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Such defiant language ostensibly appeals to the collective defense principle at the heart of NATO Article 5. As such, NATO and its members have no binding obligation to defend Ukraine against Russia's attacks. Biden has made clear that US troops thus far deployed to Eastern Europe are there to bolster NATO member countries wary of nearby Russian aggression.

Search resuls for: "European Political"

25 mentions found