<p>To the west of Eurasia lays Europe, a region predisposed to division. It is surrounded on nearly all sides by islands and peninsulas that make it difficult for Europe to cohere. The northern half of the continent, moreover, sits on a plain whose short, meandering rivers tend to empower countries without forcing them to work with others. The southern half is situated on more mountainous terrain that has historically impeded the creation of strong, unified economies. As a result, Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.</p>

Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.

Europe

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Beyond Quantitative Easing

The Ukraine Conflict

The Politics of Pipelines

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

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The Fate of the Eurozone

Banking

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European Disintegration

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Russia

A stock photo shows banknotes of the Russian ruble. 

Economics

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Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The European Union using immobilized Russian assets to fund financial support for Ukraine will probably not have major reputational or financial consequences for the eurozone.


Using Frozen Russian Assets To Fund Ukraine Unlikely To Majorly Impact the Euro

South Africa

Chile

The Ukrainian flag is projected on the facade of Berlaymont, the European Commission headquarters, in Brussels on Nov. 18 to commemorate the Nov. 18, 2024, Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: A European Council Decision on Ukraine Financing, South Africa Braces for Commission Findings

Benin

Nigeria

A photo taken on Dec. 8, 2025, shows an armored vehicle at the entrance of a blocked road in Cotonou, Benin, near the headquarters of the state broadcaster Benin TV.

The coup attempt will increase political and security risks ahead of Benin's 2026 elections, while the swift, Nigeria-led ECOWAS intervention suggests Abuja is assuming a more assertive regional role with tacit French backing following Paris's troop drawdown.

Benin's Foiled Coup Signals Strengthening Franco-Nigerian Coordination in West Africa

Tanzania

Hong Kong SAR, China

Protesters help an injured demonstrator near burning barricades amid clashes in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Oct. 29, 2025. 

Environment, Science & Technology

The Weekly Rundown: Unrest in Tanzania, an EU Summit in Ukraine

U.S.-China Relations

Eurasia

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, meets with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin in Moscow on Dec. 2, 2025.

Energy

Fundamental disagreements between Ukraine and Russia over territorial concessions and security guarantees suggest that peace negotiations are unlikely to lead to a comprehensive breakthrough.

Despite U.S. Diplomatic Push, Ukraine Peace Still a Long Way Off

Honduras

China

India

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their bilateral meeting during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

Global Trade

The Weekly Rundown: Putin-Modi Meeting, Honduras General Election

People visit the 1627 Pilgrim Village at "Plimoth Plantation," where role-players portray pilgrims seven years after the arrival of the Mayflower, in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

On Thanksgiving, the United States celebrates the Plymouth Colony. However, few know that New England's colonization was a response to major geopolitical pressures -- particularly England's struggle against the Spanish both on the Continent and in the New World.

Thanksgiving and Puritan Geopolitics in the Americas

Smoke rises in the background as a Ukrainian flag flutters in the wind following a mass overnight Russian drone and missile attacks, in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Nov. 19, 2025. 

European efforts to adjust core elements of Trump's plan won't shield Ukraine from his latest threat to withdraw support, and Europe's limited leverage and internal constraints mean it is unlikely to sustain Kyiv's defense alone if talks with the White House fail.

What To Make of Europe's Counterproposal to the U.S. Ukraine Peace Plan

Angola

Japan

South Korea

Banners bearing portraits of leaders of the G20 on Nov. 20 in Johannesburg. The South African government has focused the G20 summit's agenda on issues key to African countries.

The Weekly Rundown: A High-Stakes British Budget, South Africa Hosts the G20

Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on March 18 in the Italian Senate in Rome. Smaller fiscal deficits are unlikely to cut government debt in the medium term given Italy's modest economic growth outlook and significant social and defense spending pressures.

Smaller fiscal deficits are unlikely to cut government debt in the medium term given Italy's modest economic growth outlook and significant social and defense spending pressures.

Modest Growth and Spending Pressures Will Limit Italy's Debt Reduction Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner concluded two days of negotiations on a security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential Russia-Ukraine peace framework, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 15.

Ukraine, U.S.: Berlin Talks Advance Security Framework But Leave Territory Unresolved

A Hong Kong national security court found Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old founder of shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, guilty on two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the 2020 National Security Law and one count of sedition under a colonial-era law, Hong Kong Free Press reported on Dec. 15.

Hong Kong, U.S., U.K.: Jimmy Lai Convicted, Raises Dilemma for Trump, Starmer

Americas

France is pushing to delay a European Council vote scheduled for the week of Dec. 22 to approve the long-awaited EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu arguing safeguards proposed by the European Commission to address farmers' concerns remained incomplete, Reuters reported on Dec. 14.

EU, Mercosur: France Pushes To Delay EU Vote on Mercosur Trade Agreement

EU member states are set to formally approve on Dec. 12 a European Commission proposal to indefinitely immobilize around 210 billion euros (roughly $246 billion) in Russian central bank assets held in Europe, replacing the current six-month sanctions rollover that requires unanimity, Reuters reported the same day.

Europe, Russia, Ukraine: EU Moves To Freeze Russian Central Bank Assets Indefinitely

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned following weeks of nationwide mass protests accusing his government of corruption and criticizing its economic policies, Reuters reported on Dec. 11.

Bulgaria: New Snap Election Likely as Prime Minister Resigns Amid Mass Protests

France's National Assembly narrowly approved the government's social security budget, including provisions suspending recent pension reforms, with 247 votes in favor, 234 against and 93 abstentions, Le Monde reported on Dec. 9.

France: National Assembly Narrowly Approves Social Security Budget

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv and its European partners are ready to present "refined" peace proposals to Washington following high-stakes meetings in London, Brussels and Rome, Reuters reported on Dec. 9.

Ukraine, Europe: Zelensky's Diplomatic Marathon Tests Western Unity Against Trump's Christmas Deadline

Negotiators from the European Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on Dec. 9 to delay and scale back the European Union's sustainability reporting and due diligence framework, including significant reductions to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the European Council said in a press release. 

EU: EU Negotiators Reach Deal To Scale Back Sustainability Requirements

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, U.S.: Berlin Talks Advance Security Framework But Leave Territory Unresolved

Hong Kong, U.S., U.K.: Jimmy Lai Convicted, Raises Dilemma for Trump, Starmer

EU, Mercosur: France Pushes To Delay EU Vote on Mercosur Trade Agreement

Europe, Russia, Ukraine: EU Moves To Freeze Russian Central Bank Assets Indefinitely

Bulgaria: New Snap Election Likely as Prime Minister Resigns Amid Mass Protests

France: National Assembly Narrowly Approves Social Security Budget

Ukraine, Europe: Zelensky's Diplomatic Marathon Tests Western Unity Against Trump's Christmas Deadline

EU: EU Negotiators Reach Deal To Scale Back Sustainability Requirements

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