NIAS Area Studies
PAKISTAN READER
Photo : AP Photo/Kin Cheung
IN FOCUS
By Padmashree Anandhan
Finland: Ministry of Foreign Affairs report on the removal of Nordic border barriers
On 17 October, Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posed a request to the government to review its report on the steps taken in removing the cross-border barriers between the Nordic countries. The removal of the border barrier work began in 2012 and became part of the government programme under Prime Minister Sanna Marin. The work aims to integrate the Nordic and promote mobility, as part of the programme, the leaders of the Nordic countries signed a “joint vision” to collaborate with the Nordic governments. According to Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist: “Free movement is one of the cornerstones of Nordic cooperation, and removing cross-border barriers is a key to facilitating integration and movement in the Nordic countries. Removing cross-border barriers will benefit everyone, individuals and companies alike.”
Border Barriers Council: A brief note
The Border Barriers Council was formed in 2014 under the Council of Ministers which consists of one representative from each Nordic country along with Åland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. It includes a representative from the Nordic Council and the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers. The key task of the Council is to “identify, prioritise and propose solutions,” to help the capable authorities in carrying out the removal of the border barriers. Since the council cannot act as a body to resolve the problems relating to the cross-borders, it only operates to identify the problems and propose solutions for the national authorities to implement action. Every year the Council identifies priority issues that form part of the border barrier database and will be brought back for discussion if it remains unresolved. Till now 80 such obstacles in the removal of the border barriers have been put forward by the Council and of which between 2019 and 2021,50 border barriers were prioritized and 20 were resolved. For 2022, the focus areas of the Council are: “…digitalisation, mutual recognition of Nordic vocational qualifications, tax matters and cooperation with population registers.”
From Nordic countries to the EU: A brief review of the major actors
First, among the Nordic countries, Finland is one of the major actors in the border barriers work, where the management is not centered on one ministry but works based on “Interministerial cooperation,” where each ministry and the authority will be responsible for the obstacles rising from their respective branch.
Second, the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Prime Ministers of the Nordic Co-operation look into the policy areas, work towards a vision of an integrated Nordic region, and act as a link between the countries and the national governments. The Secretariat of the Council plans meetings, updates the database of border barriers, and helps in coordinating the cross-border barrier cooperation between actors.
Third, the Pohjola-Norden's Advisory Board works as a Finnish border barrier network consisting of representatives from ministries across the Nordic countries, the Nordic Norden Council, and the Nordic Council's Border Barriers Group. This network promotes the exchange of information, prevents border barriers, and helps in conducting a meeting at the national level before the Border Barriers Council meetings.
Fourth, Info Pohjola is a joint Nordic advisory service operating in all five Nordic countries including the islands. It promotes mobility by providing information in more than seven languages spoken in the Nordic on studies, work, and businesses to promote students, start-ups, and job exchanges.
Fifth, the EU. Norway and Iceland are not EU member states yet are part of the European Economic Area (EEA). Any regulations passed by the EU will influence the Nordic and implementations of such directives can cause border barriers. To avoid, carrying out the regulations in a uniform way across the Nordic and work dually with the EU for smoother mobility and coinciding laws to resolve the border barriers between the Nordic countries. Therefore, at the EU level through SOLVIT the representative of all the EU member states and the Nordic including Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will meet to discuss the application of the EU legislation to align it with the Border Barrier work for an integrated Nordic region.
References
“Request for an opinion on the draft for the Government's report on Nordic border barriers,” lausuntopalvelu.fi, 17 October 2022
“Ministry for Foreign Affairs requests comments on draft government report on Nordic cross-border barriers,” finlandabroad.fi, 17 October 2022
IN BRIEF
By Rishma Banerjee, Madhura Mahesh and Sai Pranav
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Dodik supporters protest election commission’s order of recounting votes
On 25 October, thousands of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina protested the election commission’s decision to recount the votes cast in the presidential election in Repubika Srpska. The protestors alleged that the election commission was trying to silence the will of the Serb people in electing the pro-Russian Milorad Dodik. The votes are being recounted as Dodik’s main contender; independent candidate Jelena Trivic alleged that Dodik’s SNSD party had rigged the election. So far, the election commission has informed the judicial authorities in the country about a few dozen fake ballots that have been found. (“Bosnia: Thousands protest recount of vote in Serb-run region,” ABC News, 26 October 2022)
BULGARIA
Caretaker government to not present 2023 budget plan
On 25 October, Bulgaria’s Finance Minister Rositsa Velkova announced in the parliament that they would not be presenting the 2023 budget plan. Instead, they are proposing to extend the budget period of the 2022 budget till a new regular government comes into power. This is a shift in the position of the caretaker government which presented a 2023 budget draft on 20 October. The draft outlined a 6.6 per cent fiscal shortfall and a revised debt estimate of about BGN 16 billion. Velkova suggested that the new government can use this estimate and draft to build the new 2023 budget plan. This comes amid Bulgaria’s plan to adopt the euro by January 2024. The caretaker government said that they would neither be presenting a budget that would breach the EU’s fiscal stability rules nor a budget that would be within the EU’s deficit limit of three per cent as it would mean huge spending cuts. All of this comes as there is a political impasse in the country after the election held on 02 October. (“Bulgaria’s caretaker government gives up on 2023 budget plan,” Euractiv, 25 October 2022)
DENMARK
New offshore wind power farms to be constructed in Denmark
On 25 October, THE LOCAL dk reported that Denmark’s Partially owned power company Orsted is planning to build four offshore wind power farms that could increase Denmark’s current wind power capacity by 100 per cent. The company will agree with the investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) to build turbine facilities capable of producing 5.2 gigawatts of wind power. Two turbine farms will be located off the west coast of Jutland and two near the coast of Bornholm, a Baltic Sea Island. The construction is hoped to be finished by 2027 or 2028. The increase in energy will help Denmark focus on producing green hydrogen and fuels. Although the agreement is yet to be approved by the authorities, Orsted and CIP hope it will be granted by the end of 2022. (“Danish offshore wind energy deal could double country’s capacity,” THE LOCAL dk, 25 October 2022)
GERMANY
Germany and France cooperation back in tussle
On 25 October, Deutsche Welle reported on the widening gap between France and Germany upon the recent announcement to postpone the ministerial meeting. France and Germany which are seen as centric force to the EU, the cooperation in terms of joint air defence programme, granting emergency energy package, nuclear energy and building a new hydrogen and gas pipeline, both have been consciously leaving out from the collaborations. According to Deputy Director of the German-Franco Institute: "German and French heads of state have often had to go through a learning curve to understand that the EU cannot function without the Franco-German couple." (Lisa Louis, “France-Germany tensions 'hamstring EU's capacity to act',” Deutsche Welle, 25 October 2022)
Germany and China’s Cosco settle the dispute over Hamburg port terminal
On 26 October, German cabinet in a clash with China’s shipping company Cosco in buying a stake in a Hamburg port terminal, Germany agreed for a compromise which allows China’s Cosco to hold a small share of 24.9 per cent instead of 35 per cent as per the earlier plan. It was done to continue its economic ties with China and to avoid higher dependency. According to a Germany’s ministers, the caution signal remains as they fear it might lead China to influence the activities of the port and have a larger effect on its long-term economic stability. (“Germany agrees on compromise over China port bid: reports,” Deutsche Welle, 26 October 2022)
MALTA
EU grants Malta JTF to promote climate neutrality
On 25 October, Malta’s Territorial Just Transition Fund (JTF) was allocated. Malta will get EUR 23 million from the EU grant to transition into climate neutral systems, especially in the maritime sector. On this issue, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans spoke “Greening the transport and maritime sector is one the biggest challenges for Malta’s transition to a climate-neutral future.” Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira highlighted on the issue and said that it was imperative to transform into carbon neutrality as the maritime transport sector accounts for 6 per cent of Malta’s economy but is a significant contributor to the country’s greenhouse emissions. As an initiative under the fund, Malta’s international ports will be decarbonized and install electric power supply to ships on shore. (“EU Cohesion Policy: €23 million for a just climate transition in Malta,” ec.europa.eu, 25 October 2022)
SERBIA
New government to be elected seven months after the election
On 25 October, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic announced that a new government led by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic will be voted on by the parliament later this week. This will be Brnabic’s third term as Serbia’s premier. Speaking at the parliament, Vucic said that the new government will have 25 ministries with three new ministries of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technological Development, the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, and the Ministry of Public Investment. He said that the voting process will be a long one and hopes that the new government will be formed by 27 October. Serbia went to polls on 03 April to elect a new president and the members of the parliament and local authorities. (“Serbia to form government 7 months after elections,” Anadolu Agency, 25 October 2022)
SLOVENIA
Slovenia goes into second run-off round in presidential race
On 24 October, Euractiv reported that Slovenia, which is amidst its presidential elections will be going into a run-off second round. None of the seven candidates contesting the election got outright majority and thus the top two candidates will be facing each other again in another election on 13 November. In the first round, former Foreign Minister under the third conservative Janez Jansa cabinet, Anze Logar led the race with nearly 34 per cent. He is a member of the eurosceptic, anti-immigrant Slovenian Democratic Party (SDP). Following closely behind in the presidential race is lawyer and rights advocate Natasa Pirc Musar with 27 per cent, who is vying to become the first female president of Slovenia. (“Former foreign minister wins first round of presidential election,” EURACTIV, 24 October 2022)
UKRAINE
Finance Minister projects an increase in inflation due to a lack of fiscal funding
On 25 October, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko projected a grim future for rising inflation in Ukraine while speaking at the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference. According to Marchenko, the country is facing a USD 37.9 billion shortage in fiscal needs for 2023 and an inflation rate of 30 per cent which will spill over to 2023. Till now the largest macroeconomic monetary funder has been the National Bank of Ukraine which has stepped into increasing liquidity and printing more money. The West and other international allies have provided minimum macro financial aid to Ukraine. Marchenko has expressed that the government cannot handle more spending cuts and this was echoed by the head of German Council Foreign Relations and Economist Guntram Wolff who added that such budget cuts would hamper the growth of Ukraine. (“Ukraine’s finance minister warns of inflation if $37.9bn fiscal needs not funded,” Euractiv, 25 October 2022)
REGIONAL
EU members projected to not reach 2030 targets to reduce Roma poverty
On 25 October, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published the results of a survey conducted to understand the plight of the Roma community and the effects of the 2020 EU agreement to lift the community from poverty by 2030. The survey was conducted in Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, North Macedonia and Serbia. The results published showed that while some have seen better living conditions, the poverty rate in the community has seen no change in the past few years. The FRA referenced the 2020 agreement and called the implementation to be slow. The FRA projects that the EU will not reach their 2030 target as there is little to no progress in educating the community and the employment rate of the Roma remains low. Except for Hungary and Italy which have achieved their 2030 target for employment, the rest of the nations are nowhere near the target. The FRA revealed that 33 per cent of the responders reported anti-gypseous attitudes which have only increased since the pandemic. FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty called out the surveyed nations saying “These findings underline how EU and national laws and policies still do not deliver on the fundamental rights of Roma that will change their daily lives.” (“EU countries far from reaching 2030 targets to cut Roma poverty, survey finds,” Euractiv, 25 October 2022)
Defence Ministers of Turkey and Hungary sign new Military agreement
On 24 October, the Defense Ministers of Hungary and Turkey met in Turkey to sign a new military agreement. The new agreement includes the fresh purchase of military equipment by Hungary, intelligence sharing, joint exercises, training and logistics and defence sector cooperation. Hungarian Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that through this new deal Hungary will be buying 40 Turkish Ejder Yalçın armoured combat vehicles and future purchase of Turkish military drones. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar expressed that the agreement was based on the relations between the leaders of the two countries and that development of relations between Hungary and Turkey will only move forward. On 25 October, the two Ministers inaugurated the Hungarian Gallipoli Monument which commemorates the fallen Hungarian soldiers who fought alongside Turkey in the Dardanelles Wars. (“Turkey deepens ties with Orbán’s Hungary,” Nordic Monitor, 26 October 2022)
Austria’s Energy Minister warns against gas price caps as EU Energy ministers meet
On 25 October, the EU energy ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss issues like a “dynamic price corridor” and the ways to tackle the impending energy crisis in Europe. However, as gas price caps come with its own set of risks like affecting the security of supply and impacting existing and long-term contracts. On this issue, Austria’s Energy Minister, Leonore Gewessler said: “If enormous price jumps happen with small volumes during the day, then the market is suspended. The same thing must now be done on the gas market.” Moreover, on the same day, Europe's leading trading hub Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) said that gas prices had fallen from EUR 100 per megawatt-hour to EUR 95 per megawatt-hour for the first time since June 2022. Gewessler also mentioned that a similar mechanism like the Iberian cap by which Spain and Portugal have subsidised gas burned for electricity should be applied to other EU countries. (Nikolaus J. Kurmayer, “Austria concerned as EU executive continues work on gas price cap,” EURACTIV, 26 October 2022; Jorge Liboreiro, “Energy crisis: Europe's gas prices fall below €100 MWh for the first time since mid-June,” Euronews, 25 October 2022)
ENERGY
Romania was found guilty of violating the Energy Charter Treaty
On 25 October, a panel of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) ruled against the Romanian government and found it guilty of violating the Energy Charter Treaty. This was concerning a case launched by ten investors in Romania’s solar power plants led by Austrian company LSG Group in 2018. The investors were from Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, and Cyprus. This decision is not final and the ICSID has asked the two parties to negotiate compensation. This case was launched when the Romanian government decreased the number of incentives given to investors in the solar power plant. The incentives were a green certificate scheme in 2008 for encouraging renewable sources of energy in Romania. The government from 2013 onwards started to reduce the number of green certificates and delayed payment. This was done by the Romanian government to allegedly combat the rising energy prices in the country and reduce over-compensation. (“Romania loses arbitration versus investors in solar power,” Balkan Green Energy News, 25 October 2022)
Decreasing gas prices in Europe are making electricity in Finland cheaper
On 25 October, yle reported that due to decreasing gas prices in Europe, electricity in Finland is becoming cheaper. Finland does not produce any electricity with gas yet stability in the energy market is being reflected in Finnish prices. The decrease in gas prices is being credited to warmer weather than expected and increasing gas stocks. Finnish electricity is imported from Norway and Sweden who source it from Baltic and Central European Countries. These countries produce electricity with gas and fluctuating gas prices had increased the price of Swedish and Norwegian electricity which in turn increased the electricity rates in Finland. The price decrease is expected to be a long-term one with new EU policies being introduced to source gas from alternative suppliers. (“The price of gas is now falling sharply - it also makes electricity cheaper in Finland and Europe,” yle.fi, 25 October 2022)
INTERNATIONAL
Slovenia and Algeria hold bilateral talks
On 25 October, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and the President of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria Ibrahim Boughali held talks during the latter’s official visit to Slovenia. The two discussed the pressing bilateral issues with a special focus on the Energy Cooperation Treaty which is being signed by the two countries. The Treaty outlines the supply of Algerian natural gas to Slovenia. They discussed how this will open doors for a long-term alliance with the Algerian gas suppliers. Golob also expressed his intentions to open an embassy in Algeria. Boughali expressed Algeria’s stand on considering Slovenia as an important partner and expressed cooperation between the two in the field of digitalisation, AI, renewable energy and new technologies. (“Prime Minister Robert Golob: Strategic partnerships with friendly countries such as Algeria are very important for Slovenia,” gov.si, 25 October 2022)
Turkey and Libya extend the 2019 maritime border agreement
On 25 October, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah signed two new defence deals extending the 2019 maritime agreement between the two nations. This was announced by the Libyan administration through a statement which did not include details on the two new deals. The deals are said to help increase the capacity of Libya’s air force and implement protocols for the security agreement. These deals are based on the 2019 agreement which received opposition from European nations like France and Greece and Egypt. The agreement allowed Turkey to access the gas-rich areas of the Eastern Mediterranean through Libyan waters. (“Libya, Turkey sign defense deals building on 2019 maritime border agreement,” The Times of Israel, 25 October 2022 )
War in Ukraine: Day 244
By Sai Pranav and Rishma Banerjee
War on the Ground
On 25 October, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed peaceful and democratic cooperation to increase their bilateral cooperation, a municipal partnership was announced. They agreed upon the partnership between Germany and Ukraine at the municipal level.
On 25 October, Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov, said in an interview with the UK Sky news channel that Russians were planning to attack the Kakhovka dam in Crimea to prevent the Ukrainian troops from advancing towards Kherson. If the dam is destroyed, Danilov fears that Crimea will have water problems and scarcity that will remain for 10 to 15 years. He stated the involvement of Belarus in the Special Military Operation by Russia in Ukraine. They have supported Russia, and Danilov speculated that Russians have a special attack base in Belarus.
On 25 October, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence warned in a Telegram post that Russia is planning to spread misinformation on heads of the nation and national liberation movements. The main goal of Russia was seen as to discredit western countries and their leaders in the campaign. They advised the public to be cautious of such misinformation and not to believe any discrediting information. The goal of the campaign was found to be disrupting the support received from the international community in Ukraine. On the same day the first Crimea Platform Parliamentary Summit was held at the National University Library in Zagreb. The Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Sabor of the Republic of Croatia, Gordan Jandrokovic.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On October 26, TASS reported that Russia submitted a draft UNSC to set up a commission consisting of all UNSC members to investigate the activities of the US biological labs in Ukraine. The investigation is to find whether the US and Ukraine are overstepping their obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention. The draft document will be considered during the Security Council’s 27 October session.
On 25 October, TASS reported that the presidential spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said that the relations between the UK and Russia would not change even if the Prime Minister changed. The UK appointed Rishi Sunak as the new Prime Minister after the other Conservative candidates withdrew due to lack of support. Peskov said, “...we do not see any preconditions, grounds or hopes for some positive shifts in the foreseeable future,” commenting on the change in the UK leadership.
On 25 October, RT reported on Russian officials, including Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu, accusation of Ukraine for preparing to use a dirty bomb. The dirty bomb is a device that combines traditional explosives with radioactive material. Russia has accused Ukraine of hiding these bombs before the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors visit. Ukraine denied the accusations and alleged that Russians were the ones who were planning to use nuclear weapons.
On 25 October, Russia responded to the new package of sanctions by increasing the stop list that does not allow those individuals entry into the country. The list was expanded to accommodate more EU representatives supplying military equipment to Ukraine. The sanction was to confiscate Russian assets instead of freezing them.
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 25 October, at a reconstruction conference for Ukraine in Berlin, European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that there was “no time to waste,” and that the EU should be prepared to coordinate reconstruction measures. She mentioned the World Bank estimate of around EUR 350 billion of damages in Ukraine and said that the Commission should launch reconstructions efforts “..preferably before the end of the year or early at the beginning of next year.”
On 25 October, the Norwegian domestic security agency made known that it had arrested a “visiting academic”, who entered Norway as a Brazilian, under the lens of being a Russian spy. Amid enhanced panic over energy security, internet, and infrastructure, the Norwegian secret service alleged that the man was in the country working for a Russian intelligence service, under a fake name and identity. Confirming that the case was “huge”, the agency said that the academic would be barred from the country, as he represents a “threat to fundamental national interests.” While a court has placed the researched under a four-week detention order, the agency said that the man had neither Russian nor Norwegian citizenship, and had been researching the northern regions, hybrid threats, and Norway’s Arctic Policy.
On 25 October, Romania announced to increase its defence procurement and boost talks with Turkey, Bulgaria, and Georgia, to the potential aftermath of Russia’s war in Ukraine towards the Black Sea. Critical for shipments of grain, oil, and oil products, the Black Sea is shared by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. While these powers have been disseminating mines from Russia in the Sea, Romania has included in its proposals to strengthen its armed forces and ramp up its military procurement programs. Not providing details of the procurements, Romania said that these proposals were to “maintain peace in the Black Sea region” and to avoid the expansion of the conflict.
On 25 October, Lithuania said that its supermarkets would deliver and phase out Russian and Belarusian goods, expressing their discontentment to “replace” certain commodities. Adding that no new products are being imported from Russia and Belarus, Lithuanian markets said that commodities like alcoholic beverages were easy to replace, but finding suppliers to counter that void was a tough task. Russian baking soda, for example, was difficult to procure, including countries like Italy and Poland pitching in to fill the racks. The market owners reassured that Lithuanians prefer domestic goods and western products and that the Russian-Belarusian products made up a “small percentage.” Moreover, a poll conducted by Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) said that about 62 per cent of the people said that all European Union countries need to stop issuing visas for Russians and bar them from entering their territory. While Lithuania has reiterated its bid to close borders to Russians, it has added that Luxembourg should show “a strong backbone” to the issue and urged them to ban entry to Russians who hold a permissible visa regardless of the country.
On 25 October, Serbia pronounced it will not be taking part in the Crimea Platform, a Ukrainian-organised international summit organised to support the return of the occupied regions back to Ukraine’s control. Not commenting on their non-participation, Serbian officials are expected to not attend the meeting as per Russian sentiments, saying that they “expressed the expectation” that Serbia would not participate in the summit. Even though the summit is received well in Croatia, the Croatian President made known that Croatia would be exempt from the meeting. He said: “… as long as Croatia is not attacked and is not at war, I will not participate.”
The Global Fallouts
Implications of the Ukraine war
On 25 October, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that South Africa saw no reason to comply with Western sanction. Thus, South Africa will allow a Russian oligarch and Putin-ally Alexei Mordashov who had been placed under sanctions to dock his superyacht in Cape Town. Echoing Ramaphosa’s stance of not criticizing Russia directly, Magwenya said that the only sanctions South Africa is obligated to comply with are ones imposed by the UN.
References
“Joint address of Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Frank-Walter Steinmeier,” president.gov.ua, 25 October 2022
Adam Parsons, “Ukraine war: Putin is a modern day Hitler and Russia is doomed to suffer the same fate as Nazi Germany, says Zelenskyy's most trusted security adviser,” news.sky, 25 October 2022
“Crimea Platform Parliamentary Summit begins in Zagreb,” Ukrinform, 25 October 2022
Main Department of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence, “In the near future, the special services of the Russian Federation are preparing a campaign to discredit the national movements of the peoples of Russia,” Telegram, 25 October 2022
“Russia suggests UN Security Council commission to look into US biolabs in Ukraine,” TASS, 26 October 2022
“As Sunak takes reins, Moscow sees ‘no hopes’ for better ties with UK, says Kremlin,” TASS, 25 October 2022
“Exposure of Ukraine’s ‘dirty bomb’ plans caused stir in Kiev – Russia,” RT, 25 October 2022
“Russia responded to the eighth package of EU sanctions and expanded the stop list,” LENTA.RU, 25 October 2022
“World must not waste time but swiftly start work on Ukraine's reconstruction – EU,” Reuters, 25 October 2022
Jennifer Jacobs, “Biden Congratulates Sunak, Discusses Ukraine and China in Call,” Bloomberg, 26 October 2022
“Norway arrests researcher as suspected Russian spy,” Deutsche Welle, 25 October 2022
“Romania plans to boost Black Sea talks, military procurement,” Reuters, 25 October 2022
Sasa Dragojlo, “Serbia Shuns Ukraine’s Crimea Summit After Russian Diplomat’s Plea,” Balkan Insight, 25 October 2022
“62% of Lithuanians in Favour of Completely Banning Russians From Entering EU,” Schengen Visa, 25 October 2022
“Lithuanian supermarkets gradually phase out Russian and Belarusian goods,” bnn-news.com, 25 October 2022
“Ukraine war: South Africa refuses to seize sanctioned Russian superyacht,” BBC, 26 October 2022