From China warning Western nations to stop meddling in Hong Kong to Communist Party-backed newspapers describing "plots" by foreign spies to seize the city, a growing row over electoral reform has exposed the fragility of hopes for full democracy.

• September 19, 2013

by Prof. Andrej Kreutz,
EGF adviser for Trans-Atlantic security

A Long Western Debate and its Political Consequences
Although Russia has been part of the European system since the Westphalian Treaty of 1648, and after its victory in the Northern War with Sweden and the Nystad Treaty in 1721 started to be seen as of he major powers on the continent, both its internal nature and its role in international politics have often suffered Western doubts and uncertainties. READ MORE

• September 19, 2013

Ukraine formally gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for landmark trade deals to be signed with the European Union, disregarding pressure from Moscow for Kiev to halt its westward course.

• September 18, 2013

European Union countries will agree next month to talks with China on a pact making it easier to do business, possibly paving the way for a free-trade deal between two of the world's biggest markets, EU officials said on Tuesday.

• September 18, 2013

Russia denounced U.N. investigators' findings on a poison gas attack in Syria as preconceived and tainted by politics on Wednesday, stepping up its criticism of a report Western nations said proved President Bashar al-Assad's forces were responsible.

• September 18, 2013

French energy major Total (TOTF.PA) is in talks to join "tight" or hard to access oil projects in Russia, which by some estimates hold the world's largest unconventional oil reserves, a Total executive was quoted on Tuesday as saying.

• September 17, 2013

China said on Tuesday that it would take a serious look at a report by U.N. investigators which confirmed the use of sarin nerve agent in an August 21 gas attack outside the Syrian capital.

• September 17, 2013

In early spring France's ambassador to the United Nations dined with a Russian colleague and discussed the crisis in Syria.

• September 17, 2013