Growing tensions in U.S.-China trade relations generated by the rapid expansion of Chinese exports to the U.S. have led both countries to frequently resort to the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s dispute settlement mechanism (DSM).

• February 7, 2013

Ukraine considers OSCE as being a unique platform for dialogue between the parties of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alexander Mishchenko said at a briefing in connection with the 21st Anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations on Wednesday.

• February 6, 2013

At the meeting of Ministers for European Affairs in Brussels on 4 February, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Vytautas Leskevicius called on the EU heads of state who will be attending the European Council meeting at the end of this week, to send a clear message about the aim to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine, including a free trade area, reported BC Lithuania's MFA.

• February 6, 2013

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance has no intention of stepping back from its plans to establish a missile-defense system in Europe.

• February 6, 2013

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
by Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas

Key points:

• Gazprom is under pressure from all sides. European energy companies request further gas price discounts, export volumes fell in 2012 and are expected to remain weak in 2013, PM Medvedev suggests that Gazprom’s export monopoly could be revoked, and Gazprom faces criticism from Europe and the United States over its bid for Greece’s state-owned gas utility, DEPA.
• Gazprom slaps Naftogaz with a $7bn bill for failing to purchase sufficient amounts of gas in 2012.
• The Czech section of Nord Steam, Gazelle, is launched as Gazprom CEO, Alexei Miller, declares an expansion of Nord Stream to be ‘feasible’ despite the pipeline operating at well below capacity since its launch
• Gazprom and the Croatian State-owned energy company, Plinacro, to set up a joint venture in mid-2013 for the construction of a spur from South Stream into Croatia, while Serbia is set to grant South Stream ‘national status’
• Gazprom signs an agreement with Novatek to produce LNG on the Yamal Peninsula, with Asia the predicted export destination
• Gazprom lobbies the Russian government for Shtokman tax breaks as the Russian government considers revoking the Gazprom-Rosneft monopoly on offshore gas and oil production in Russia

• February 6, 2013

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara has said that the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union this year is quite realistic.

• February 4, 2013

If Moscow goes to the Stockholm court to settle its $7-billion claim to Ukraine for the gas Kyiv failed to buy under the existing contract, Ukraine may set up a counter-claim for the gas Moscow failed to pump via Ukraine, Mykhailo Honchar, energy expert , and Maksim Alinov, legal expert

• February 2, 2013

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held his first direct talks with Syria's opposition leader in Germany on Saturday, amid a renewed global push to iron out sharp differences over how to end the conflict in Syria.

• February 2, 2013