Wheat for loyalty — Russia’s “humanitarian” trap for Africa
When Russia solemnly promised “free” grain to six African countries in 2023, the Kremlin framed it as an act of humanity. Behind this “generosity,” however, lies a calculated geopolitical game in which wheat is supplied in exchange for gold, uranium, loyalty in UN votes, and support for its aggressive war…
EU simplifies state aid for drug manufacturing to combat shortages
Negotiators in Brussels have agreed on new rules that will significantly simplify the provision of state aid to pharmaceutical manufacturers in European Union member states, the European Parliament has announced. The initiative aims to swiftly address the problem of drug shortages, which in recent years have periodically affected several EU…
The end of Russia’s era of dominance in the South Caucasus
By spring 2026, a process that just a few years ago seemed nearly impossible had fully taken shape in the South Caucasus. Armenia, one of Russia’s closest allies in the post-Soviet space, began a systematic dismantling of its long-standing military and political dependence on Moscow. The first Armenia–EU summit in…
How Russia is making millions from illegal shipments of banned gases to the EU
On April 9, 2026, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) published a report on the scale of the black market for refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbon HFC gases) in Europe, stating that the volumes seized in the EU grew from 250 tonnes in 2023 to over 670 tonnes in 2024–2025. According to its findings,…
How the AfD is undermining Germany’s security from within
In spring 2026, AfD took a step no mainstream party in postwar Germany had ever taken. Having lost a court case, it didn’t appeal to a higher instance — it advised its supporters to simply stop paying taxes. This sends an important signal about what this party has become and…