Features

• July 19, 2025

  Belarus's Military Budget Is Ballooning. That’s Got Its Neighbors Worried.

  Belarus’s spending on weaponry and other military expenditures has jumped significantly since 2022, when Russia launched its all-out assault on neighboring Ukraine. That’s worrying to Minsk’s neighbors.

• July 19, 2025

  Will Trump's 50-Day Deadline Shift Putin? Doubtful, Analysts Say

  If it sticks, US President Donald Trump’s pivot to pressure on Putin and arms for Kyiv could have major consequences for the course of Russia’s war against Ukraine.  But don’t expect his 50-day deadline to produce a peace deal, analysts say.  Here’s why.

• July 18, 2025

  Why Iran Is Watching Baku And Damascus Closely

  This edition of the Farda Briefing explores why Iranian media are voicing deep suspicions about the warming relationship between Azerbaijan and Syria, two players whose shifting alliances could challenge Tehran’s regional interests.

• July 18, 2025

  Iran Tells Europeans To Abandon ‘Worn Out’ Threats Amid Nuclear Sanctions Debate

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has called on European powers to halt threats against Tehran, including warnings about reinstating UN sanctions.

• July 18, 2025

  Forced Into Underage Marriages, Kyrgyz And Tajik Girls See Dreams Derailed

  In Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, teenage girls are commonly forced to marry before reaching adulthood, in spite of laws setting the minimum age of marriage at 18. RFE/RL spoke to two teenagers who were coerced into marriage against their will, forcing them to give up their educations.

• July 18, 2025

  The Last Death Sentence: The Ukrainian Executed For Nationalism In 1989

  In July 1989, a 64-year-old Ukrainian man was executed. He was the last member of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army to be put to death by Soviet authorities.

• July 17, 2025

  Planned Serbia-China Military Exercise Sparks EU Backlash

  Serbia will conduct military training exercises with China this month, becoming the first-ever EU candidate to do so as the two countries take a new step toward deepening military cooperation.

• July 17, 2025

  US Tariff Threat Raises Stakes For Europe As Trade War Fears Grow

  The United States is threatening 30 percent tariffs on EU goods, risking a trade war as Brussels readies $84 billion in potential countermeasures. Talks continue amid fears of economic fallout and efforts to secure new trade deals worldwide.

• July 17, 2025

  Russia Seeks 'Expendable Manpower' For Ukraine War With New Recruiting Network

  With almost a million casualties and no end to the war on Ukraine in sight, Russia is using an array of approaches to keep the flow of soldiers to the front from slowing. An RFE/RL investigation reveals details about a new recruitment system that a lawmaker said provides “expendable manpower.”

• July 16, 2025

  EU Budget Proposal Doubles Ukraine Aid And Boosts Military Spending

  The European Commission is proposing a record 2-trillion-euro budget for 2028-2034, boosting funds for Ukraine, defense, and foreign policy. But tough negotiations lie ahead as richer EU states balk at higher spending.

• July 16, 2025

  Nuclear Diplomacy On The Brink As Europe Pushes Iran With UN Sanctions Threat

  European powers are warning Iran that time is running out to strike a nuclear deal with the United States, threatening to trigger a UN sanctions snapback if Tehran fails to make verifiable commitments, even as President Donald Trump insists Washington is in no rush for new talks.

• July 16, 2025

  Russia's Grip Weakens In The South Caucasus, Opening Doors To New Players

  As Russia remains preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, its influence is weakening along its southern border, particularly in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Analysts told RFE/RL that this vacuum may create opportunities for other players, such as Turkey, the EU, and the US, to influence the region.

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