The chart of the week shows how surging energy costs have boosted inflation, especially in Europe, after fossil-fuel prices nearly doubled in the past year. Rising food prices have also helped to boost inflation. Meanwhile, continuing supply chain disruptions, clogged ports, logistics strains and strong demand for merchandise have broadened …

Russia has said that it received “no positive response” from the United States over its main security concerns in a standoff over Ukraine, though room exists to continue dialogue over several issues. As expected, the United States and NATO on January 26 rejected Moscow’s demand to permanently shut the door …

The comments come after President Joe Biden warned there is a “distinct possibility” that Russia could invade Ukraine in February. President Joe Biden said Friday night he will move U.S. troops to Eastern Europe and NATO countries “in the near term,” without elaborating on the timing but adding that the …

President Vladimir Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that the United States ignored Russia’s key security demands in written responses submitted this week, the Kremlin said Friday. The U.S. and NATO on Wednesday formally rejected Russia’s demand to permanently bar Ukraine from NATO, but outlined areas where they could increase …

Is Russia’s lucky streak in Syria and Libya finally running out? The Kremlin has gambled big on proxy warfare in both countries, deploying thousands of private military contractors with the so-called Wagner Group to back its favorite strongmen. But after a recent run of misfortunes for Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, …

For much of the Syrian civil war, the southern city of Deraa and the surrounding Houran Plains, an agricultural region near the Jordanian border, were divided between government forces and armed rebels. Fighting raged back and forth, killing thousands. It was not until Russia backed a government offensive in 2018 …

Putin będzie nakręcał spiralę strachu. Potrzebna jest mu cała Ukraina oraz rozmontowanie solidarności sojuszniczej Zachodu – czy to w ramach NATO, czy współpracy transatlantyckiej. Od początku rosyjskiej ofensywy w sprawie rewizji koncepcji bezpieczeństwa europejskiego Moskwa kilkakrotnie dokonywała zmian w scenariuszu. Przepychanie pomysłów zawartych w grudniowym ultimatum pod adresem Zachodu: pisemne …

After the disappointments of 2021, can Venezuela’s government and opposition get negotiations back on track in the year ahead? Venezuela enters 2022 with persistent challenges but also some tangible opportunities. Left behind are the unrealistic aspirations of the immediate exodus of Chavismo — leaving room for the incremental development of …

NATO unity and diplomacy are the hopes for preventing a wider Russian invasion. The risk of a new Russian invasion of Ukraine remains high after today’s meeting in Geneva between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The United States delivered its warning, with European allies, …

The three-day conclave in Oslo on January 23-25 for interaction for a core group of Western diplomats with Taliban officials marks a new phase in the political situation in Afghanistan. The West was represented by the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy as well as the European Union. Norway is …