The diplomatic battle for Ukraine
The Minsk agreement was vague on some key points of disagreement between Kyiv and Moscow, and the fight over how to interpret its provisions is escalating
Programme entry
Ukraine’s economic pressures
Russia’s aim is to create a dysfunctional Ukraine, and it will continue using economic means as much as military attacks
The EU and the Arctic Council
The EU’s bid for observer status at the Arctic Council may not yet be nearing a successful conclusion – especially if Russia has its way
View from Athens: Walking the line between Europe and Russia
Greece does not rule out the possibility of vetoing new sanctions on Russia, but its foreign policy will likely remain aligned with that of the EU and NATO
View from Stockholm: The EU must stay the course
Sweden continues to support sanctions on Russia and the Swedish public is fully behind its government's hard line on Sweden's eastern neighbour
Militarisation in the Russian Arctic: Should the EU be worried?
Russia’s increasing military actions in the Arctic are aimed at securing its broader strategic interests, as well as tightening its hold on an area that it has identified as a “strategic resource base”
View from Dublin: A “wait and see” approach
Ireland’s calculus on sanctions is informed by its economic ties to Russia and its need to forge stronger EU ties ahead of a potential Brexit
View from London: Elections approach, Ukraine looms
The UK supports sanctions, but the Ukraine crisis has become a political football in the campaign for the upcoming general elections
View from Warsaw: Sanctions are the EU’s only tool
Poland is more moderate on Russia policy than hawks might have hoped, preferring the use of sanctions to any military option
View from Vienna: Austria is again on the sceptical side
Austria is still sceptical about sanctions, but it will not challenge the bigger EU states without support