The warning was issued as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stoutly defended the action to divert the Ryanair aircraft to Minsk.

Georgia's banking sector started to demonstrate first signs of recovery since the beginning of this year.

Zelensky may be hoping for more explicit U.S. support, but no new format for talks to resolve the Ukrainian crisis is likely before Biden meets Putin.

The first shipment in amount of about 2,000 tonnes was imported this week by SOCAR New Energy, the company's subsidiary.

Fitch said the decision was based on majority state ownership, significant systemic importance, and a record of capital and liquidity support.

Since the elections in August, Protasevich has allegedly been targeted by the Lukashenko regime and has had criminal charges filed against him for allegedly being a terrorist. In Belarus, terrorists can face the death penalty.