Alexander Lukashenko

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West, in the context of the war in Ukraine, Moscow issued a stern warning to France, cautioning that any deployment of French troops to Ukraine would make them legitimate targets for the Russian military.

Reports from AFP and Reuters have revealed that Russia is set to conduct military exercises in the near future, involving the use of tactical nuclear weapons. The maneuvers, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, aim to test the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces and will include preparation and deployment drills.

"Belarus is a crucial element for Putin but also his weakest link," argues the exiled politician and leader of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in a Kathimerini interview.

As Russia prepares to mark Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union's triumph in World War II, festivities are set to be scaled back for the second consecutive year due to security threats linked to the war in Ukraine and recent acts of terrorism.

A year ago, American officials seemed satisfied with how the war in Ukraine was going, thinking that the longer it went on, the more Vladimir Putin would bleed out, weakening his military and his country.

Tensions in the Black Sea region have escalated, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as NATO announces plans to bolster its military presence, with a new base set to be established in Bulgaria.

Greece supports the aspirations of the Belarusian people for democracy and human rights, President Katerina Sakellaropoulou has told exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Germany sought Tuesday to downplay an audio leak of senior military personnel discussing the war in Ukraine, blaming individual error and stressing that Berlin still had the trust of allies.

A 38-minute recording of the talks, in which the officers debated the possible use of German-made Taurus missiles by Ukraine, was posted online late Friday on Russian social media.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the prominent figure of the Belarusian opposition, is currently on a visit to Bulgaria, where she continues her campaign for democratic reforms in her homeland. Forced into exile following the brutal suppression of protests against Alexander Lukashenko's regime, Tsikhanouskaya remains a steadfast advocate for change.

Day 729 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours: