Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has strengthened his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin since returning to power in October 2023, which has angered Ukrainian officials. Fico visited Moscow on December 22 to discuss a potential solution to the conflict, but his efforts have been met with skepticism by Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. As part of his efforts to strengthen ties with Russia, Fico has suspended all military aid to Ukraine and threatened to cut off electricity supplies, humanitarian aid, and assistance to Ukrainian refugees. This move is seen as a significant shift in Slovakia's stance on the conflict, which has been ongoing since 2014.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/941370-volodymyr-zelensky-to-robert-fico-i-m-waiting-for-you-in-kievA new report has found that over 900 companies from G7 countries, which support Ukraine politically, financially, and militarily, have significant business ties to Russia. These companies, including 827 from the EU, generated $81.4 billion in revenue in 2022, with their profit tax contributions remaining steady at $3 billion. The report highlights that some of these companies, such as France's Mulliez family-owned Leroy Merlin and Auchan retail chains, remain heavily exposed to Russia.
https://www.politico.eu/article/kremlin-russia-earned-e3-billion-from-eu-company-tax/The German government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine by continuing to provide military equipment and supplies, including for the current and future years, as part of its existing agreements.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-defense/3948033-germany-hands-ukraine-unique-rch-155-wheeled-howitzer.htmlHasjim Djalal, a former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has passed away at the age of 90. As a tough diplomat, he played a key role in pushing for the ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982. This achievement confirmed Indonesia's archipelago as part of international law, resolving a long-standing dispute with other countries.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1963224/indonesian-foreign-minister-leads-funeral-ceremony-for-senior-diplomat-hasjim-djalalRobert Hormats, a veteran diplomat and economist who served as a senior adviser to Henry Kissinger on economic affairs, believes that the trust gap between China and the US can be narrowed. As a former vice-chairman of Goldman Sachs and Undersecretary of State for Economic and Energy Affairs under Hillary Clinton, Hormats has extensive experience in high-level bilateral negotiations with China. He suggests that managing differences carefully is key to avoiding a full decoupling of the two economies, which would have significant implications for the global economy.
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3294274/kissinger-acolyte-robert-hormats-how-china-us-can-narrow-their-trust-gap?module=top_story&pgtype=section#commentsHungary has expressed concerns over the security of its gas supply after a suspected attack on the TurkStream pipeline. The pipeline runs from Russia to Turkey, then through the Balkans to Europe. Hungary receives Russian gas via this route and considers any disruption to be an attack on its sovereignty. Meanwhile, Austria and Slovakia have secured alternative supplies as they had contracts for Russian gas via a now-canceled Ukrainian transit route. The Kremlin has accused the US of destabilizing the global energy market with fresh sanctions on Russian oil producers, including Gazprom Neft, which is part of Russia's "shadow fleet".
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/13/russia-accuses-ukraine-of-energy-terrorism-over-alleged-pipeline-strike-a87584Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that the country plans to hold talks with regional allies to mitigate the impact of higher oil prices resulting from US sanctions on Russia's oil and gas sector. The sanctions, imposed by the Biden administration, target Russian companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, as well as 183 vessels that have shipped Russian oil. As a result, oil prices hit a three-month high, raising concerns about "very serious" price increases in central Europe, where Hungary imports most of its crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline. Szijjarto stated that lower crude oil supplies would increase demand for refined fuels such as petrol and diesel, exacerbating the issue.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40342361/new-us-sanctions-on-russia-hungary-plans-talks-with-allies-to-combat-higher-oil-pricesIndia's relationship with Bangladesh is deteriorating due to accusations of meddling in Dhaka's internal affairs. The Indian government has raised concerns about the treatment of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, while also sheltering ousted Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina. This has led to tensions between the two countries, which could worsen unless both sides engage in urgent diplomacy. The situation escalated when India's Ministry of External Affairs demanded a fair trial for Hindu minorities in Bangladesh after a court rejected the bail plea of a Hindu priest implicated in a sedition case.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294312/indias-growing-rift-bangladesh-echoes-its-pakistan-tensions?module=asia_latest&pgtype=sectionIndia has chosen a pragmatic approach in its engagement with the Taliban, prioritizing stability and security over ideological differences. This decision was made evident when India extended humanitarian aid to Afghanistan despite the Taliban's takeover of the country. The move reflects India's long-standing policy of engaging with various governments in the region, including those that may not align with its values or ideology.
https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/how-india-chose-pragmatism-over-ideology-by-engaging-with-taliban-2-0-13852328.html