Baltics:

  • The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania commented on Hungary’s block of the next EU sanctions package against Russia saying “The whole Union is being held “hostage” of one country. We should not allow that.”
  • There is no point in talking to Vladimir Putin if we really want him to understand he is isolated, said Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas commenting on the unsuccessful phone diplomacy.
  • On 10 May, the Lithuanian parliament unanimously recognized that Russia deliberately committed terrorism and committed a genocide against the Ukrainian people, referring to the crimes in Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, and others. It declared Russia a terrorist state.
  • Following Lithuanian announcement, Latvian Parliament allowed the “de-Sovietisation” which means that from 16 May onwards, Soviet memorials in Latvia are no longer legally protected.
  • From 16 May till 3 June, Estonia will conduct military exercise called Siil (Hedgehog). The main target is to test the overall combat readiness with 15,000 conscripts, reservists and active-duty members of the Estonian Defence Forces.
  • As Madrid NATO summit is approaching, Latvia’s MFA, Edgars Rinkēvičs, is pushing to approve the Baltic missile defence system. It aims the presence of NATO allied forces in each of the Baltic States that are critically lacking in the region.

 

Belarus: 

  • Aleksandr Lukashenka is heading to Moscow this week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the CSTO. He also will hold talks with Vladimir Putin as the Summit of the Leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation member states gathers to discuss security issues in the region.

 

Moldova:

  • On 15 May, the Congress of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) elected new leader, Igor Grosu. Previously Maia Sandu was taking that position.
  • On 18 May at 15.00, Moldovan President will address MEPs on the war in Ukraine and its consequences for Moldova. The next day, MEPs will vote on the annual implementing report on the EU association agreement with the Republic of Moldova.

 

Ukraine:

  • As the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces informed that the Russian troops staffed less than 20 per cent of full capacities. Russia tries to reinforce its forces with soldiers conscripted from the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Russian army bore heavy losses on 11 May, trying to cross a pontoon bridge over Siversky Donets river: 485 (or 88 per cent of the troops) dead, and 80 vehicles damaged. The total loss of Russian troops since 24 February is estimated of 27,700, stated Ukrainian Armed Forces official sources.
  • Russian forces are withdrawing from the north of the Kharkiv region. The 227 battalion of the Territorial defence 127 brigade reached the border and restored the border post. Some of the East directions of Kharkiv region are still occupied and hold battles till today.
  • Lviv region Iavoriv center was under air attack again, the military infrastructure was damaged and the strikes took place only 15 km from the border with Poland. Odesa region was also target in last days with injured and killed by the missiles sent from the Black Sea.
  • As of today, the Ukrainian army controls only 10 per cent of Luhansk region, including Lysychansk, the outskirts of Rubizhne, and Severodonetsk. The latter is expected to be attacked by Russian troops.
  • Ukrainian minister for agriculture, Mykola Solsky, reported at the G7 meeting that due to Russia’s blocking Ukrainian seaports more than 7 million tons of wheat, 3 million tons of sunflower oil, and 14 million tons of corn together with other products are not delivered to their destination points. It can cause mass hunger and is a threat to world food security. Ukraine offers to create an Organisation of Grain Exporting Countries as a response to this threat.
  • Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 their contestant urged Europe to save Mariupol, and help Azovstal. The ESC commission commented by saying that this statement has nothing to do with politics, but has a humanitarian character. Yesterday, Ukrainian winners issued their video clip on the song presented in Turin, it was filmed in the de-occupied territories of the Kyiv region. Following Ukraine’s victory, Russians bombed Azovstal publishing the photos of bombs with inscriptions mocking the band’s statement. Russian commanders deny the evacuation of those injured and besieged, despite Turkey being ready for their extraction.
  • The Ukrainian Foreign ministry advises Russia to stay away from Ukraine’s EU integration plans. ‘Russia has not reached historical development high enough to reflect on European values,’ said Oleh Nikolenko, spokesman of MFA, in response to Russia’s threats regarding Ukrainian euro-integration plans.

 

Czech Republic:

  • The Czech Republic replaced Russia in UN Human Rights Council. Czech MFA Lipavský thinks that it is an opportunity to continue with the human rights diplomacy supported by Václav Havel.
  • Czech Senate adopted a resolution recognizing Russian actions in Ukraine as a genocide. They also announced that the Czech government will send more military aid to Ukraine using heavy weaponry which the Czech army has in its depots from pre-1989 equipment.
  • Ukrainian Roma families fleeing Ukraine are still trapped at Prague’s Main Train Station due to what Czech Ministry of Interior describes as document issues preventing the authorities from giving them refugee status as they possess Hungarian citizenships in most cases.

 

Hungary:

  • After the elections of the new President of Hungary, Katalin Novak, she announced her first visit location , Poland, as a gesture of support to Ukraine and Poland as a hostesses of the most of Ukrainians forced to seek asylum in EU Member states.
  • Viktor Orbán continues to block the oil sanctions package despite EU attempts to accommodate Hungary’s stance.
  • PM Viktor Orbán gave a comment on why Hungary is still blocking Russian gaz and oil embargo – explaining that due to historical changes of Hungarian borders, Hungary would have a sea coast if it had not been taken from the country, meaning Croatia.

 

Poland: 

  • New gas interconnector construction between Poland and Slovakia was announced during Slovak President Zuzana visit to Warsaw.
  • Agreement on EU funds was announced to outlines milestones which the government will have to accept concerning reforming the judiciary (cancellation of Disciplinary Chamber).
  • Recently PM Morawiecki said in Daily Telegraph that “Russkij Mir” (Russian world) is a cancer that devours not only most of Russian society, but also constitutes a deadly threat to the whole of Europe. It is not enough to support Ukraine in its military struggle with Russia. We must completely eradicate this monstrous ideology”. It was commented on by the deputy head of the State Duma, Irina Yarova, quoted by the Russian TASS agency. Jarowa stated that “hatred of any nation should be condemned as extremism, as an international crime against peace and humanity, much less such incitement to hatred by a high official”. According to her, the statement of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland is “essentially fascist”. – It is not only his personal shame, his betrayal of the memory of thousands of Poles exterminated by Hitler and Bandera, as well as thousands of Poles saved by a Soviet soldier. It is a crime, argued the Russian politician”.
  • On 7 May, Polish MFA got the request from the Russian Embassy in Warsaw asking to secure the Russian Ambassador’s visit to the Warsaw Red Army commemoration cemetery on the 9th of May. He did not receive the answer, while mayor of Warsaw and ex-candidate for presidential elections, Rafal Trzaszkowski, responded that “none of Polish government institutions should take responsibility for this action” adding that “he does not give his permission for aggressor to celebrate that day”. Nonetheless, Russian Ambassador visited the cemetery, but was stopped by the mass group of people that put a red colour sirop reminding blood over his head. One of Russian propagandist online media, Ria Novosti published the video without sound, so Russians do not hear people screaming “fascists-ruscists (rashists)” (see attached to the email). Polish MFA, Zbigniew Rau, commented on the accident with his condemnation of activists’ actions. Albeit Russian Ambassador’s 2ndrequest to have the visit to the cemetery another day to fulfil his “mission”, Polish MFA did not respond to it again. Afterwards, Russia asked for the apology from Poland. Unknown filmed the video how 3 persons are spilling red paint on the Polish Embassy in Moscow as a sign of protest.

 

Slovakia:

  • Former PM and opposition leader, Robert Fico, was recently charged for establishing and leading a criminal group during his two consecutive governments from 2012 until 2018. Last week he also called on immediate halt to all aid to Ukraine.
  • Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová has endorsed Finland’s NATO ambitions and is willing to support a quick accession.
  • Due to decrease of the population and more opportunities for studies abroad, Slovak universities had to shorten the number of programmes: 900 study programmes are already closed and 1,000 to be still shut down.