A collection of 205 posts
Von der Leyen's visits to frontline NATO states aims to deliver a message of solidarity while boosting Europe’s defence capacity, promoting joint procurement and galvanising industrial support through the EU’s SAFE mechanism.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda described Ruginiene as “a constructive negotiator who seeks compromise”, adding that foreign policy continuity, especially support for Ukraine, would be maintained. Nauseda signed a decree on 27 August formally appointing her.
The alliance’s biggest spenders are all on the Eastern flank and neighbouring Russia, with Poland leading the pack (4.48%) ahead of Lithuania (4.0%), Latvia (3.73%), and Estonia (3.38%). The US is sixth at 3.22% of GDP.
Ukrainian drones have struck at least 10 key Russian energy facilities this month alone, according to US news channel CNN. Attacks on 12, 17 and 21-22 August all targeted Druzhba's same pipeline’s southern leg.
Germany’s trade with Central and Eastern Europe rose EUR 5.4bn to EUR 275bn in the first half of 2025, led by a surge in exports to Poland, Ukraine and Slovenia.
If the EU decides to approach Moldova separately, it would depart from recent EU practice of advancing Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia as a group under the "Association Trio" framework.
The 44-year-old former Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation chairwoman now awaits a parliamentary confidence vote to approve her cabinet and programme.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Ukraine would bear the cost regardless of the outcome of a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Research by TechBehemoths shows that strong education systems, multilingual talent pools and EU-level legal protections keep CEE competitive for global tech outsourcing and nearshoring.
CEE contributions include cross-border logistics, public-private coordination platforms, and green recovery initiatives. Regional forums such as the Three Seas Initiative are also expected to play a larger role in financing and implementation.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Russia has repeatedly attempted to blackmail us by weaponising its energy supplies. We have taken clear steps to turn off the tap and end the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe for good."
Global Peace Index (GPI) founder Steve Killelea spoke to the Central European Times on the day of the release of the GPI's 18th annual report. Despite the steep rise in militarisation in CEE, investment-led ambitions are currently limited by fragmentation, Killelea tells CET.
Polish Deputy PM and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said in April that Poland’s defence strategy prioritises frontline support and rapid capacity building. He added that Poland “will not turn anyone away” from its training centres, including non-combat personnel.
“If Ukraine falls, Lithuania is next. That’s not speculative. It’s consistent with everything Putin has said and done,” Petraeus said.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has arrested two Ukrainian military veterans in Zakarpattia, west Ukraine, on suspicion of high treason, it announced on Friday, 9 May. Ukrainian authorities claim Hungary was collecting sensitive military data with an eye on a possible future incursion into western Ukraine. The SBU said