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Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region was quoted by AP on Monday saying that Moscow’s forces have overrun all of it, one of four regions Russia annexed from Ukraine in September 2022. If confirmed, it would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war with international peace efforts led by the US failing to make progress on halting the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn’t budged from his demands, which include Moscow’s control over the four illegally annexed regions. 
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Denmark takes over EU Presidency with a focus on Security, Migration and Enlargement

Denmark takes over EU Presidency with a focus on Security, Migration and Enlargement

On July 1, Denmark takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time. Under the motto ‘A Strong Europe in a Changing World’, the Danish Presidency said its programme of work will ensure that the EU takes responsibility for its own security, while also strengthening its competitiveness. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that priority will be given to boosting defence capabilities in Europe amid Russia's war in Ukraine and US threats to Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory. Pushing countries to keep promises to boost defence spending and bolstering Europe's "dangerous" security will top Denmark’s agenda as it takes over the rotating presidency on Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

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Monday Commentary
Armenia and Azerbaijan Peace Agreement: A step in the right direction...but just a step

Armenia and Azerbaijan Peace Agreement: A step in the right direction...but just a step

The news, released simultaneously in Baku and Yerevan, that Armenia and Azerbaijan had successfully concluded negotiations on a peace agreement is very welcome. Negotiations had been going on for a long time, sometimes in person and sometimes by email, sometimes with the participation of third-party mediators, but most of the time bilaterally without third parties. Armenia and Azerbaijan should be congratulated. The EU, US, Russia and France were amongst the first to praise the sides for their success.
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US and Israel look to the Horn of Africa for resettling Palestinians uprooted from Gaza

US and Israel look to the Horn of Africa for resettling Palestinians uprooted from Gaza

The U.S. and Israel have approached officials of three East African governments to discuss using their territories as potential destinations for resettling Palestinians uprooted from the Gaza Strip under President Donald Trump’s proposed postwar plan, American and Israeli officials told The Associated Press. The contacts with Sudan, Somalia and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland reflect the determination by the U.S. and Israel to press ahead with a plan that has been widely condemned and raised serious legal and moral issues, according to the exclusive report.
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European Union welcomes conclusion of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks

European Union welcomes conclusion of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks

The European Union has congratulated the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan for finalising a peace deal and urged them to sign the treaty soon. The South Caucasus neighbours said on Thursday 13 March that they had concluded talks aimed at resolving their decades-old conflict, with both sides agreeing on the text of a possible treaty. European Council chief Antonio Costa wrote on X that it was "a decisive step towards the full normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the opening of the region."
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Opinion
Opinion: Armenia and Azerbaijan Finalise Peace Treaty Though Challenges Remain

Opinion: Armenia and Azerbaijan Finalise Peace Treaty Though Challenges Remain

Speaking to media on the sidelines of the Global Baku Forum, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov unexpectedly announced that the text of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan had been finalised. Made up of 17 points, two of which had not until now been agreed, the news came like a bolt out of the blue. As was already known, those last points concerned withdrawing international court cases against each other and not deploying third country forces on their common border.
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Charles Michel warns of potential new trade war at the 12th Global Baku Forum

Charles Michel warns of potential new trade war at the 12th Global Baku Forum

Speaking at the 12th Global Baku Forum, the former President of the European Council, Charles Michel warned that a potential trade war could stem from events originating in the White House but Europe must remain focused on further strengthening its economy. He also highlighted that the US plays an important role in Europe's security and that more investment should be made in institutional development. The Global Baku Forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center under the patronage of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.
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Opinion
Opinion: Wounds and Empathy in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict

Opinion: Wounds and Empathy in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict

Upon visiting Karabakh in 1994, there were two possible routes for my return to Yerevan. The first was the same way I arrived by military helicopter, and the second was by road. With no highway in place at the time, that would take longer and prove more challenging. Even if the helicopter on the way to Karabakh had to perform an evasive manoeuvre when the pilot was informed of Azerbaijani activity in the area, it was by far the quickest and made the journey in under 45 minutes rather than an estimated 12 hours by road. I had spent less than three hours in Yerevan upon arrival from London and over a week in Karabakh. A few days would barely be enough for meetings with Vazgen Sargsyan in Yerevan and the Locum Tenens Catholicos in Etchmiadzin. I also had to meet Seta Melkonian, recently widowed wife of Monte, and two local journalists reporting on the conflict.
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EU Commissioner Síkela visits Central Asia to promote development projects in the region

EU Commissioner Síkela visits Central Asia to promote development projects in the region

Between 12 and 18 March, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela will visit the five Central Asian countries to strengthen the EU-Central Asia partnership ahead of the EU-Central Asia Summit and scale up Global Gateway, the EU’s investment strategy to boost jobs and sustainable economic growth. 
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Opinion
Opinion: Turkey's EU Perspective - Strategic Implications of the London Summit

Opinion: Turkey's EU Perspective - Strategic Implications of the London Summit

Turkey, as one of the geopolitically significant countries, serves as a bridge between the Western and Eastern worlds. In this context, Turkey seeks to maintain normal relations with both the West and the East. However, as a NATO member country, the characteristics of the Western world are more evident in Türkiye in various aspects. In this regard, Turkey collaborates with European countries within the framework of various strategic projects. Although Turkey is not an official member of the European Union, it maintains certain relations with the bloc. There have also been negative developments between Turkey and the European Union from time to time. Despite these developments, issues related to Turkey's accession to the European Union have recently been reignited.
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Opinion
Opinion: Armenia-Azerbaijan Dialogue - Flogging a Dead Horse?

Opinion: Armenia-Azerbaijan Dialogue - Flogging a Dead Horse?

Even though many believed a second Trump presidency was unlikely or even impossible, his re-election last November demonstrated how many people prefer to favour dreams over reality, transforming fears into self-fulfilling prophecies. This is a situation that can best describe how Track II diplomacy in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has been conducted over time. As a result, there is little to no agreement between the sides, the blatantly obvious is ignored, and meetings become performative at best or simply a continuation of the conflict at worst.