The European Union (EU) has accepted Uzbekistan as a beneficiary country of the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (GSP+)  in a move recognising the country's ongoing reforms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretary has reopened a highly divisive debate over the use of the Russian language in the country, saying that alongside Ukrainian there existed “Ukrainian Russian” as a fundamental part of national identity.

A mark of the seriousness with which Washington regards Russia’s sudden troops build up on Ukraine’s border is that, after months of silence, it provoked new President Joe Biden’s first telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“All political groups agreed that it’s time to introduce the principle of conditionality” for the EU assistance toward Georgia, said MEP Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the South Caucasus, during an online discussion hosted by the Georgian Institute of Politics, a think-tank, on April 7, Civil.ge reported.

On April 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.  As reported by the press services of both presidents, the parties discussed the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, and further stabilization in accordance with the Statements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia dated November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, according to news agency Turan.

The White House is in talks to appoint a special envoy to lead negotiations on halting the construction of Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, current and former U.S. officials said, as the Biden administration grapples with how to stymie a nearly completed energy project that would serve as a major financial and geopolitical boon to Moscow, POLITICO reported.

Turkey, a long-standing ally of ethnic kin Azerbaijan, helped the country develop its military over the past few years. Turkish armed forces officers trained and advised Azerbaijan units. Key was not only huge Azerbaijani investments in armaments by using its oil revenues – but also tactical advice.

Is Russia really preparing another military adventure into Ukraine? And what would be its goals?