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Putin Decree Forces Foreigners Seeking Russian Residency To Sign Army Contracts

Brussels Pushes Plan To Use Frozen Russian Assets For Ukraine Financing

The European Union is pushing for a way to finance support Ukraine for the next two years. A key component of this is a so-called reparations loan for Kyiv. RFE/RL looks at how the loan would work, what the main sticking points are, and what the alternatives may be in case there's no agreement.
Is Russia Hunting For Fighters In Iran?

This edition of the Farda Briefing looks at a mysterious recruitment flyer that appeared near Russia's embassy in Tehran, offering Iranians cash to fight in Ukraine. Is it real, a scam, or something else entirely?
Russian Fears Being Sent To Fight In Native Ukraine If Extradited From Serbia

A Ukrainian-born Russian man who fled with his family in 2022 could soon be extradited to Russia, where he fears authorities will send him to the front in Ukraine. "Our friends are there, my wife's parents. It would be a disaster if I went to war against Ukraine," he told RFE/RL.
Peaky Blinders Lookalikes Arrested By Afghan Taliban

The Taliban has arrested four young Afghan men for "promoting alien culture” because they wore outfits like those of the leading male characters in the British historical crime drama Peaky Blinders.
Is Russia Recruiting Iranians For War In Ukraine?

Is Russia attempting to recruit fighters from Iran for its war in Russia? A mysterious advertisement has appeared in Tehran offering money, training, and air tickets to Iranian men between the ages of 18 and 45.
The Iranian Border Is Increasingly Deadly For Afghans

Iranian border guards shot and killed at least 10 Afghans who entered Iran illegally in early December, according to Taliban officials. The incident underscored how dangerous the Iranian border has become for Afghans.
The Problems At Baikonur 31/6: A Launch Accident Is (Another) Headache For Russia's Space Program

Russia's space program has taken a drubbing in recent years, its reputation battered by corruption scandals, shrinking budgets, embarrassing accidents, and accusations that its managers put politics above science. A launch pad mishap at Baikonur is the latest blow.
The Donbas And Beyond: The Territorial Barriers To Peace In Ukraine

Russia wants all of the Donbas, and more. Ukraine is loath to cede any land to Moscow, let alone areas Kyiv’s forces control. The US is pushing for an end to the war. Here’s a look at the tense issue of territorial control in Ukraine, perhaps the highest hurdle on the path to peace.
Wider Europe Briefing: Hitting Belarusian Balloons And Montenegro's EU Prospects

In this week's briefing, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak drills down on two issues: hitting Belarus’s balloons and EU views on Montenegro and other accession hopefuls.
Belarus Accused Of Sabotaging Lithuanian Airspace As EU Moves Toward New Sanctions

The EU is preparing new sanctions on Belarus after hundreds of weather balloons crossed into Lithuania, disrupting airports and prompting temporary border closures. Vilnius says the balloons are used for smuggling and sabotage, and pressure on Minsk is set to escalate.
China-Backed Bridge Project In Belgrade Draws Scrutiny Over Hidden Contracts

Construction on the new Sava bridge kicked off in Belgrade, but loopholes and workarounds used to grant contracts for the project are raising transparency and construction quality concerns.
Key Takeaways As White House, Congress Push Foreign Policy Plans

Washington’s new National Security Strategy and a major defense bill in Congress lay out sharply different visions for American foreign policy, prompting allies and rivals alike to reassess the US role in the world.
One Year After Assad's Fall: Iran's Strategic Collapse In Syria

One year after Assad's fall, Iran grapples with the collapse of its key regional ally. Tehran lost up to 50 billion dollars invested over a decade, its Mediterranean access, and supply routes to Hezbollah. Iran seeks to rebuild influence, but is there a way back?
Lavrov's Kyiv Footprint: How A Russian Foundation Financed Pro-Kremlin Activities in Ukraine

Funds were allocated in an effort to collect information supporting the Kremlin's war-crimes claims and undermine Kyiv’s defense against the invasion.
Can Europe Push China To Help End Russia's War In Ukraine?

Experts interviewed by RFE/RL doubt Beijing will honor European appeals to influence Moscow amid a new push to end the war in Ukraine, even though the EU is one of China’s largest trading partners.

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