Eastern Europe

The bridge connecting Estonia with Russia is seen in Narva, Estonia, on July 24, 2024.
Eastern Europe

In Estonia’s border town, Russian-speaking majority enjoys NATO’s shield, remains mute on Russia’s threat

by Maria Yeryoma

NARVA, Estonia — On both sides of the Narva River, fishermen stand knee-deep in the water between two medieval castles just 101 meters apart. Above them, the flags mark where NATO ends and Russia begins. For years, experts have been warning of the so-called "Narva scenario" — a plan in which Russia might attempt to grab an Estonian border city using its old tune, "protecting the Russian-speaking population." Following Europe's inability to handle Russia's now recurring drone incursions, the mo

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Fertilizers: End the free pass for the merchants of death

Ever since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian fertilizer industry has had a sanctions-free pass. One can see why such a free pass was granted. When it came to Russian fertilizer exports, both the U.S. and the EU prioritized food security. They did not want to increase food prices and reduce food security by banning Russian fertilizer. While that was an understandable reaction, it overlooked the role that fertilizer plays in munitions production. Fertilizer produc

Ukraine’s defense tech partnerships surge, but many deals stall, new report finds

International joint ventures in Ukraine's defense tech sector are on the rise, with at least 180 partnerships in manufacturing, R&D, and maintenance confirmed by a new report from the Kyiv School of Economics Institute. But export restrictions and fragmented procedures are slowing some deals. A third of those partnerships were signed in the past 12 months as Ukraine's defense tech sector has matured and consolidated. German companies lead the group with 36 partnerships, followed by Denmark with

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