Final votes are still being counted, and the result isn't expected to be released until later on Monday, but state television predicted Lukashenko would win with almost 88% of the vote. View on eurone

In an address to EU lawmakers, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged the 27-nation bloc to 'take control' of its own security.

Ten European Union countries have called for the 27-nation bloc to ban imports of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, a document seen by Reuters showed, as Europe debates fresh sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

As well as transiting Azerbaijani gas and exporting its own domestic reserves, Turkey imports fuel from Russia via the TurkStream pipeline under the Black Sea. After the Kremlin's agreement with Ukraine ended on Jan. 1, the underwater link is the only remaining route for Moscow to ship supplies to Europe.

The EU's top diplomat and Poland's prime minister said Wednesday that the bloc must heed US President Donald Trump's demand to spend much more on defence -- faced with the "existential threat" posed by Russia.

European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis said Moscow must be made to “pay” for its nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine.

The European Union is considering import restrictions on Russian aluminum and phasing out liquefied natural gas from the nation as part of a new package of sanctions targeting Moscow for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine,

Moscow’s gas cutoff fuels Moldova’s shift toward the EU, as the country seeks energy security and support. Meanwhile, pro-Russian Transnistria

The Armenian parliament is ready to consider the draft law on joining the European Union in the first half of February, the country's legislative body told Izvestia. The government approved the document on January 9.

Pressure to impose sanctions, a raging war and a looming Trump presidency still have not quenched the bloc’s thirst for Russian gas.

North Korea is preparing to send more troops to Ukraine due to "the large number of casualties suffered". As the Ukraine war approaches its third year, Russia claims to have shot down 120 Ukrainian drones over 12 of its regions,