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NATO launches “Eastern Sentry” to bolster posture along eastern flank
On Friday (12 September 2025), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich held a joint press conference to outline NATO’s response to the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones two days earlier. Rutte announced the launch of “Eastern Sentry,” a military activity aimed to bolster NATO’s posture along the eastern flank. Commencing in the coming days, Eastern Sentry will involve a range of Allied assets and feature both traditional capabilities and novel technologies, including elements designed to address challenges associated with drones. “Eastern Sentry will add flexibility and strength to our posture,” said the Secretary General. He thanked General Grynkewich for his responsive leadership both in the context of the incursions on 10 September and in guiding the design of this new activity, as well as Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, for his role in promoting innovative solutions to new challenges, including those posed by the use of drones. At a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Wednesday (10 September 2025), Allies discussed the situation in light of Poland’s request for Article 4 consultations. Rutte noted that while this was the largest concentration of violations of NATO airspace, “what happened on Wednesday was not an isolated incident. Russia’s recklessness in the air along our eastern flank is increasing in frequency.” The Secretary General highlighted that NATO’s core task to deter aggression and defend every Ally underlines the importance of safeguarding the eastern flank. “This is why we have forward land forces deployed in eight countries, with contributions from every Ally supporting these contingents, and plans in place to scale up our presence if and when required,” he said. He added that Allies across Europe and North America work together every day on strengthening air defences and protecting critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
Most Georgians support EU membership, according to latest opinion poll
Almost three-quarters of Georgians (74%) would vote for EU membership and only five per cent against if a referendum were held this week, according to the 2025 annual survey of opinion in Georgia, with 80% saying membership would bring more advantages than disadvantages to the country. This latest survey was conducted in May 2025 and involved face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of just over 1,000 people across the country. The opinion polls have been carried out annually by the EUNEIGHBOURS east Programme in Georgia and the five other countries of the Eastern Partnership since 2016. The EU continues to be the most trusted international actor among Georgians, trusted by 67% of respondents, though the number of those who think their country has good relations with the EU is down to 63% this year. Awareness of EU financial support to Georgia remains high at 70%, with almost half of those asked (48%) saying it was effective. Respondents felt the EU should play a greater role in education and lifelong learning (37%), economic development and trade (36%), and health (34%). Asked which factors could make Georgians more positively disposed towards the EU, respondents pointed to greater support for Georgia’s economic development (59%), security (39%), and education, exchanges, and local infrastructure (38%).
Zelensky announces faster air defense deliveries after deadly Russian strikes
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 1 that the delivery of additional air defense systems would be accelerated to shield Ukraine from Russian missile and drone attacks. The announcement followed intensified Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure, including the Aug. 28 attack on Kyiv that killed 25 people. "We are accelerating the supply of additional air defense systems to enhance protection against missiles," Zelensky wrote on X, without naming any specific agreement. "We count on the maximum efforts of Ukrainian diplomats in their contacts with partners." Zelensky instructed National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov to coordinate with officials, regional authorities, and energy companies to procure more short- and medium-range systems and increase funding for drone manufacturers. The president also said Ukraine is preparing a Technological Staff meeting with domestic producers of missiles, drones, and air defense systems. "The priority is intercepting 'Shaheds,'" he wrote. "We also discussed the protection of networks and energy facilities in front-line and border communities, along with backup supply." Shahed-type drones, mass-produced in Russia from Iranian designs, have become central to Moscow's long-range strikes. Overnight on Aug. 31, Russia struck Odesa Oblast's energy grid with the drones, leaving more than 29,000 consumers without power. Ukraine has made countering Shaheds a core defense priority for 2025 as Russia scales up drone production.
Germany's Merz expects Ukraine war to last a long time
BERLIN, Aug 31 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday he was braced for the Ukraine war to last a long time given that wars usually end in military defeat or economic exhaustion, scenarios he does not see on the horizon for either Kyiv or Moscow. Merz's comments come a day before the expiry of a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine with a view to paving the way for peace talks. Trump has threatened "consequences" if the meeting does not take place.
EU head von der Leyen's plane landing on Sunday hit by suspected Russian GPS interference, FT says
A suspected Russian interference attack disabled GPS navigation services at a Bulgarian airport and forced a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to land at Plovdiv on Sunday using paper maps, the Financial Times reported, citing three officials familiar with the matter.
Ukraine to mass produce long-range Flamingo missile in winter, Zelensky says
Ukraine is planning to begin mass production of its domestically developed long-range Flamingo cruise missile this winter, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a meeting with journalists on Aug. 20. Having its own long-range missile capabilities could be a game changer for Ukraine in its efforts to undermine Russia's war machine deep behind enemy lines. Zelensky said that Flamingo had undergone successful tests, describing it as "the most successful" missile Ukraine currently has. The Flamingo missile is capable of flying up to 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles), he claimed. "By December, we’ll have more of them. And by the end of December or in January–February, mass production should begin," the president said. The Flamingo missile was first publicly revealed on Aug. 17, when Associated Press (AP) photojournalist Efrem Lukatsky published a photo of it.
Ombudsman Shares Negative Evaluation by ODIHR on ‘Foreign Agents’ Laws
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has produced a legal report concerning the “Foreign Agents” draft laws introduced in the Georgian Parliament in February 2023. The report was prepared in response to requests submitted by the Public Defender on February 24 and March 6. The assessment of these initiatives by ODIHR was negative, according to a statement from the Ombudsman issued on August 9. The Ombudsman’s statement notes that following large social protests, the deliberation of the aforementioned draft laws within the Georgian Parliament was halted. Specifically, one of the draft laws was withdrawn, while the other was discarded during the second reading. Despite these developments, and due to the significance of the matter at hand, OSCE/ODIHR continued to analyze the issue and presented an extensive overview of human rights standards along with associated recommendations. The document primarily concentrates on the adverse impacts of the draft laws on fundamental human rights. These rights include freedom of association, freedom of expression, the right to privacy, participation in public affairs, and protection from discrimination. “The Note also reviews the US and Australian legislations. It is emphasized that they are fundamentally different cases, have an entirely different goal and scale, which is why they do not represent relevant comparative examples in the Georgian context,” – reads the statement by the Public Defender of Georgia. OSCE/ODIHR’s Legal Note on “Foreign Agents” Draft-Laws The “Note on Legislative Initiatives on Transparency and Regulation of Associations Funded from Abroad or so-called ‘Foreign Agents Laws’ and Similar Legislation and their Compliance with International Human Rights Standards” opens by highlighting that the fundamental right to freedom of association is integral to a vibrant and participatory democracy and is intertwined with various human rights. Essential to this right is access to diverse funding sources, including international and foreign funding. Nevertheless, it points out that certain nations regard foreign funding with suspicion. The Notes notes that “overall, the aim of so-called “foreign agents laws” or similar legislation is generally to seek to increase the scrutiny of such funding and of the activities of the recipient associations by introducing new obligations for such associations such as separate and generally burdensome registration, labelling, reporting, accounting and publication/disclosure requirements”, etc. The Note stresses that these regulations often fall short of meeting the rigorous criteria established by international human rights law. These criteria dictate that constraints on freedom of association must be lawful, pursue legitimate objectives, demonstrate proportionality and necessity within a democratic society, and refrain from discrimination. Additionally, the Note draws upon comparative viewpoints, regional legal precedents, and authoritative recommendations to offer supplementary insight on this issue. The assessment finds that the rationale for implementing legislative initiatives related to “foreign agents” laws often lacks evidence of a tangible, current, or serious threat to national interests or democracy. Adequate risk-based evaluations of the civil society sector, confirming NGO involvement in criminal activities, are frequently absent. Moreover, national justifications for such legislative initiatives typically fall short of being “relevant and sufficient.” They fail to demonstrate insufficiencies in existing legal frameworks and the appropriateness of proposed measures. “An abstract assumption that all funds originating from abroad constitute a potential threat to national interests is incompatible with international human rights standards,” – reads the Note. It is also noted that lack of proper reasoning for differential treatment based on funding’s foreign origin suggests potential discrimination. Regulations on associations are often stricter than those on business entities, without clear explanations. In addition, the report highlights that “the legal drafters usually fail to show that they have assessed the potential negative impact of a legislation on associations or considered other legal alternatives and selected the least intrusive measures with regard to the protection of fundamental rights,” adding that aiming for “transparency” or “publicity” of association funding isn’t inherently a legitimate aim, though it could be under specific circumstances related to public order or preventing crimes. The Note emphasizes that objectives like countering money laundering or terrorism financing don’t automatically justify new reporting obligations for all associations. References to foreign laws like the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and Australian Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act (FITS) aren’t suitable comparisons for justifying initiatives targeting foreign-funded associations. The report also notes that “foreign agents” laws introduce control measures, such as unscheduled inspections without clear legal grounds or court authorization. In certain cases, these laws even impose fines, imprisonment, or association dissolution as consequences for violations that are seen as disproportionate. These laws frequently violate principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination, indirectly affecting associations that advocate minority viewpoints. In practical terms, “foreign agents” laws run the risk of discrediting valid organizations, fostering mistrust, fear, and hostility, thus complicating their operational activities.
Apple to integrate Siri with WhatsApp, Uber, and other apps: What users can expect
Apple is testing an updated version of its Siri voice assistant with deep integration into popular third-party apps such as WhatsApp, Uber, AllTrails, Threads, Temu, Amazon, YouTube, and Facebook. This was reported by Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman in an article for MacRumors. The new Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence and an improved App Intents system, promises revolutionary voice control — but its launch is planned only for spring 2026. Here’s what users can expect, what limitations may arise, and how this will affect the Apple ecosystem.
economic
Türkiye–Kazakhstan railway deal to boost freight transport volume via Middle Corridor
Türkiye and Kazakhstan signed a railway cooperation deal that aims to increase freight transport capacity and service quality along the Middle Corridor, Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said. The agreement, concluded during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent visit to Türkiye, was hailed by both sides as a milestone in strategic logistics cooperation. “We will launch regular block train services between Türkiye and Kazakhstan, and freight traffic on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line will increase,” Uraloglu told Anadolu. He said the agreement would enable two-way cargo movement on China–Europe and China–Africa routes, support multi-modal infrastructure, and implement competitive tariffs to attract more freight operators. The deal also includes collaboration in key areas such as digitalization, customs streamlining, and joint investment initiatives. “Equipment transfer, know-how sharing, simplified customs procedures, and the wider use of digital tools in transport documentation are among the focus areas,” Uraloglu said. He added that the agreement aims to boost the global logistics roles of both Türkiye and Kazakhstan, strengthen the Middle Corridor’s competitiveness, and deepen regional economic integration.
Interview
Analytics
Georgia will become a NATO member, when allies assess that it is prepared to fulfill the obligations that come with membership, John Bass says
Ambassador John Bass, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, answered the question by Europetime. Q - „At the NATO summit held in Bucharest in 2008, allies decided that Georgia would join NATO. The decision was reaffirmed at the subsequent summits. During your tenure as U.S. ambassador to Georgia, we have repeatedly heard your comments regarding the integration of Georgia into NATO. How do your earlier assumptions and expectations align with the present dynamics and process of the country’s integration into the Alliance?” A - „I would first say that for many of us who spent time in Georgia or working with Georgians, particularly in the aftermath of the conflict in 2008 in which, yet again, Russia was attempting to determine how a neighboring country should live, dictate whether or not that country should be free to choose its own security relationships with, in this case, NATO – having been there in that period, it’s been very disturbing to see the evolution in recent years and particularly in recent months of the Georgian Dream government. And if someone were to ask straight up, as I think is implicit in the question, when will Georgia become a member of NATO, the answer is that Georgia will become a member, I think, when allies assess that it is prepared to fulfill the obligations that come with membership, including upholding principles – core principles of democratic governance, including the fundamental principle that people are free to choose their own leaders. And unfortunately, since I was ambassador in Georgia, we have not seen Georgia progress to meeting those objectives. And unfortunately, we’ve seen quite a bit of work, quite a bit of retrograde, if you will. And as the U.S. ambassador who worked quite hard to ensure that there were the conditions in place to allow Georgian Dream to compete fairly in the parliamentary elections of 2012, it is deeply disturbing to see that same group now eroding the foundations of democratic governance and society. And as a final observation, I would say it is both deeply disturbing and saddening to see the aspirations and dreams of an entire society being held hostage to the grievances of one individual: Bidzina Ivanishvili.“ John Bass was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 17, 2021, as the Under Secretary for Management. The Secretary of State designated John Bass as Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs on March 23, 2024. A career Senior Foreign Service officer, he served as Senior Advisor at the Foreign Service Institute from 2020-2021, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan 2017-2020, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey from 2014 to 2017, Executive Secretary of the State Department from 2012 to 2014, and U.S. Ambassador to Georgia from 2009 to 2012. He began his diplomatic career in 1988 and has also served in positions in U.S. missions in Iraq, Italy, Belgium, and Chad.
The United States is already implementing the Black Sea Strategy, the state department says
Europetime receives confirmation from the US State Department that the Biden administration has already begun implementing a comprehensive strategy for the Black Sea region. According to Europetime, the strategy is centered on the goal of the US administration and calls for more political and diplomatic engagement as well as other significant actions. “The United States is already implementing this strategy, and we will continue to coordinate closely with allies, partners, and civil society to advance this strategy in pursuit of shared objectives. The timeline for implementation will depend on the goal or activity. Some of our objectives, such as increased political engagement and messaging are ongoing; likewise, support for defense modernization of our Allies and partners has already begun. Our strategy provides a whole-of-government vision and framework through which we can continue current efforts, develop future initiatives and make funding requests to support implementation. What is the Black Sea Strategy? In the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the NSC was required by the U.S. Congress to develop and implement a strategy to support a Black Sea region that is secure, prosperous, interconnected, and free from malign influence, economic coercion, and threats to territorial integrity. The NSC delegated the drafting of the report to the State Department in coordination with interagency. The Black Sea Strategy encourages agencies across the United States government to work with allies and partners bilaterally and multilaterally to increase political and diplomatic engagement, ensure regional security, boost economic cooperation, provide clean and secure energy, strengthen rule of law, promote respect for human rights, combat corruption, and counter disinformation. Through this Strategy, the United States is strengthening our partnerships to promote peace and prosperity for all. The Strategy also outlines our approach to addressing the immediate and long-term repercussions brought upon the region by Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine,“ a State Department spokesperson told Europetime.
The US is exploring potential investment opportunities in infrastructure to advance strategic projects in the Trans-Caspian Corridor
The US is exploring potential investment opportunities in infrastructure to advance strategic projects in the Trans-Caspian Corridor. In response to a question from Europetime, the State Department states that in order to actually advance important projects in the Trans-Caspian Corridor, the „US is currently evaluating potential areas for infrastructure investment.“ „Generally speaking, we welcome and encourage multilateral efforts in support of regional connectivity in Central Asia and South Caucasus westward to Europe. Such efforts contribute to the creation of a more secure, resilient, and prosperous region. In close coordination with our European counterparts, the United States continues to support initiatives that enhance connectivity and diversify the economies of our Central Asian partners, including the EU Global Gateway Investors Forum, the Commercial Law Development Program’s Trans-Caspian Trade Route Coordination Platform, and USAID’s Trade Central Asia. Through the C5+1 diplomatic platform, we continue to promote regional cooperation and dialogue that helps the region address shared security and economic challenges while reaffirming the autonomy and sovereignty of our Central Asian partners. During the inaugural C5+1 Presidential Summit in September 2023, President Biden affirmed continued U.S. support through PGI to scale infrastructure investment and accelerate the economic development, energy security, and connectivity of the Trans-Caspian Corridor. Through PGI, the United States is currently evaluating potential areas for infrastructure investment where the U.S. Government could contribute project advisory technical assistance, project preparation, and/or financing to tangibly move forward strategic projects in the Trans-Caspian Corridor,“ a State Department spokesperson told Europetime. Bulgarian Ambassador: After an agreement on the resumption of ferry traffic is signed, more concrete and cooperative action is needed
EEAS Spokesperson: Together with our US colleagues, we have been working on how to address the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine across the Black Sea region
Peter Stano, lead spokesperson for the foreign affairs and security policy of the European Union, said that the EU and US share common interests in the Black Sea region. According to him, they cooperate to support partners in the region to bolster their resilience to increasing hybrid and cyber challenges as well. „Together with our US colleagues, we have been working on how to address the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine across the Black Sea region - both in the short and the long run. We have focused on supporting Ukraine, but also helping the region address the wider fallout of Russia’s war. We have done this in many fora, including the EU-US Security and Defence Dialogue, the UN, the G7, etc. The EU and US share common interests in the region to: (1) increase coordination with partners; (2) deepen economic ties; (3) strengthen energy security; (4) support efforts to bolster democratic resilience, including fighting false narratives and Russian state-controlled propaganda, in accordance with our shared values; (5) support partners in the region to bolster their resilience to increasing hybrid and cyber challenges. We cooperate to help accelerating Ukrainian grain exports, notably after Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the UN-Türkiye-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative. The Leaders have been unequivocal in their Joint statement following the US-EU Summit on 20th October 2023 in Washington D.C. We continue to pursue the Solidarity Lanes objectives to increase efficiency and reduce transport costs. The US collaboration with the European partners in Constanta, Romania’s largest port city on the Black Sea coast, is a good example of that. The EU has deployed a Multipurpose Maritime Operation in the Black Sea, involving the EU Agencies with Coast Guard functions (Frontex, the European Maritime Safety Agency, European Fisheries Control Agency), riparian EU Member States, and also other EU Member States. Georgian officials were invited to observe various activities in this context. Furthermore, the EU has supported capacity building, including for Georgia, through the Black and Caspian Sea I project and its current successor Black and Caspian Seas II, implemented by the European Maritime Safety Agency. Looking ahead, the EU is working on the 4th implementation report of the EU Black Sea Synergy. This stock-tacking exercise will also help us identify key trends and findings, which could factor into future EU thinking on the Black Sea cooperation. At its core there are issues of connectivity, energy, digital transformation, blue economy, environment, fisheries and maritime security, resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure,“Stano told Europetime. The US sees Georgia as a critical security partner for the Black Sea, James O’Brien says
US Embassy: The U.S. government has and will continue to expose Russia’s efforts to undermine democratic elections around the world
EXCLUSIVE The United States has become aware of a trend in Russia’s efforts to undermine democratic processes globally, according to the US Embassy in Georgia. Europetime was told in the embassy that the U.S. government has and will continue to expose Russia’s efforts to undermine democratic elections around the world. The United States on Friday released a U.S. intelligence assessment sent to more than 100 countries that found Moscow is using spies, social media and Russian state-run media to erode public faith in the integrity of democratic elections worldwide. The assessment was sent in a State Department cable dated Wednesday to more than 100 U.S. embassies in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa for distribution to their host governments. Europetime was curious as to whether there has been communication over the aforementioned matter with the Georgian side via the embassy. “The United States has become aware of a trend in Russia’s efforts to undermine democratic processes globally. It is well-documented that Russia seeks to influence the outcomes of democratic elections globally in favor of specific candidates and political parties. In response, the U.S. State Department has briefed more than 100 democracies on these Russian efforts and steps we can take in response. We also are speaking openly about these findings. The U.S. government has and will continue to expose Russia’s efforts to undermine democratic elections around the world. We are seeking to increase public awareness of and resilience to these Russian activities. It is critical that we work together, as democracies, to counter these Russian efforts. In our cable to the governments invited to the Summit for Democracy, we notified each country, privately, on whether we assess Russia had sought to degrade public confidence in elections held in their country. We are keeping these briefings confidential, even as we act transparently by sharing our general findings with the public,“ the U.S. Embassy said.
State Department: Russia is seeking to undermine democracies from within, the IC found that this Russian activity is global in scope
Russia is seeking to undermine democracies from within. The IC found that this Russian activity is global in scope, a State Department spokesperson told Europetime. „We have long known that Russia is seeking to subvert democratic processes around the world, and we are raising awareness that, as part of these efforts, Russia is pursuing operations to degrade public confidence in the integrity of elections themselves. To better understand this threat, the U.S. Intelligence Community undertook a review of Russian operations to undermine public confidence in democratic elections that took place between January 2020 and December 2022. The IC found that this Russian activity is global in scope. Russia is seeking to undermine democracies from within. In response, the U.S. State Department has briefed more than 100 democracies on these Russian efforts and steps we can take in response. We also are speaking openly about these findings. The U.S. government has and will continue to expose Russia’s efforts to undermine democratic elections around the world. We also will continue to work with other democracies to further these efforts. We are seeking to increase public awareness of and resilience to these Russian activities. „We will continue to work with our fellow democracies to advance these actions, including through new policy initiatives – like this multi-part exposure campaign,“ - a State Department spokesperson told Europetime. The United States on Friday released a U.S. intelligence assessment sent to more than 100 countries that found Moscow is using spies, social media and Russian state-run media to erode public faith in the integrity of democratic elections worldwide. The assessment was sent in a State Department cable dated Wednesday to more than 100 U.S. embassies in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa for distribution to their host governments. US Embassy: The U.S. government has and will continue to expose Russia’s efforts to undermine democratic elections around the world