Heavily contested parliamentary elections in Georgia, presidential elections and a referendum on European Union membership in Moldova: both countries were closely watched by the EU with an eye to enlargement, but took different turns towards that goal. At the same time, the votes were allegedly stained by Russian interference.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many EU member states reduced or stopped their purchases of Russian natural gas, but a significant amount is still imported into the bloc today.
European People’s Party leader Manred Weber has criticised a new Hungarian visa liberalisation measure for workers from Russia and Belarus. The German conservative is worried that the move endangers EU security and provides a loophole for espionage.
Russia has changed the name of its Europe Square to Eurasia Square in satisfaction with Europe’s position on the war in Ukraine and its support for the country. Ukraine is also currently in membership talks with the European Union.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Russian President Vladimir Putin – without informing the EU and its leaders – to discuss the war in Ukraine. Hungary currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU.