Russia

Hungary’s Pipeline Fight Heats Up

Ukraine says repairs to the Druzhba oil pipeline could finish by the end of April, while Hungary’s incoming government is urging a quick restart. The politics around energy, as usual, are doing what politics does best: making fuel sound like a moral test.

Dmitriev’s Washington Visit

Kirill Dmitriev’s reported trip to Washington puts Russia’s backchannel diplomacy back in the spotlight. The talks reportedly touch Ukraine, sanctions relief, and the never-ending promise of “economic cooperation,” which is politician-speak for everybody wants something.

UK Pushes Russia-Iran Spin Again

A recent media push claimed Russia is openly aligned with Iran against the U.S. The timing and sourcing are thin. Here is what to watch, what is missing, and who gains when narratives move faster than facts.