Latest news, headlines and top stories you need to know RIGHT NOW about Russia, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow Monday for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit has been anticipated as Russia is traditionally the first country a re-elected Chinese leader visits, and Xi was recently re-elected to a third 5-year term as China’s General Secretary. While both Russia and China have long described their relationship as a strategic partnership and friendly, Russia’s war in Ukraine has changed the dynamic of the two countries’ relationship from one of cooperation and partnership to one of co-dependency.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what Beijing has described as a “trip for peace.” The White House, however, has said, “We don’t support calls for a ceasefire right now.”
More than a decade after closing its consulate in Damascus due to the onset of the U.S.-led war on Syria in 2011, Saudi Arabia will reopen its Syrian consulate following Ramadan. Preparations for the reopening will occur during an upcoming visit to Syria by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, who will meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
After the International Criminal Court based in The Hague issued an arrest warrant last week for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged human rights abuses in Ukraine, Germany announced over the weekend that it will arrest Putin should he ever travel to its territory.
According to Spanish Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, Madrid will be sending 4 additional Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine along with more infantry vehicles. That is in addition to the 6 Leopard tanks that Spain is already in the process of preparing to ship to Kyiv.
Jan Emeryk Rościszewski, Poland’s Ambassador to France, made the startling declaration that Poland would declare war on Russia should Ukraine lose the war. “If Ukraine fails to defend its independence,” the ambassador told French television, “we will have no choice, we will be forced to enter the conflict.”
Tens of thousands marched in the streets shouting “Motion of censorship! Vote censorship!” calling on parliament to pass a non-partisan vote of no-confidence in the government to bring down the regime. They also chanted “Out Of NATO,” to express their opposition to Macron’s support for the war in Ukraine while ignoring the needs of his own people.