We'll come back at the 9th of January, 2013.

The leak of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (AA) turns the focus of their relations to a Shakespearean question: to sign or not to sign. And since Ukraine is ready to sign, it puts the onus on the EU, in the complex geopolitical games of Russia, Europe, the US and other influential international players. READ MORE

The EU-Russia summit last week in Brussels seemed almost routine. Gas, visas, Syria, and human rights were all on an agenda that proved largely fruitless. Yet, something is different and no one seems to have noticed. Relations between the European Union and its biggest neighbor are changing fundamentally. READ MORE

Further development of an Uzbek-American dialogue covering the progress in implementing bilateral agreements in various fields were recently discussed by the U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan George Krol and Uzbek Foreign Ministry, the Foreign Ministry reported on Friday.  READ MORE

The West is starting to change its views on Russia. In September, the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticizing how court decisions are often politically driven in Russia. In October, the European Parliament proposed that the  European Council come up with its own Magnitsky list. In November, the Magnitsky Act was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and the German Bundestag approved a sharp resolution criticizing the Kremlin's crackdown on human rights and other elements of a democratic society. READ MORE

US-Russia relations are always at the center of attention among Russian and foreign analysts. That is why RIAC could not miss an opportunity to interview Prof. Robert Donaldson of the University of Tulsa, a renowned expert in Russia and US external affairs. Prof. Donaldson was kind enough to speak about the "reset", issues of mutual distrust, US foreign policy shifts and the latest trends in the Asia Pacific. READ MORE

High-level NATO officials met Turkish policy-makers and opinion leaders to discuss current issues on NATO’s agenda at the annual Antalya International Conference for Security and Cooperation on 14 and 15 December. Taking place a few days after NATO foreign ministers agreed to deploy Patriot missiles to Turkey, the event also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the spirit of Alliance solidarity. READ MORE

Energy in Kyrgyzstan: development policy READ MORE

Exclusive interview Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia READ MORE

Deutsche Bank co-chief executive Juergen Fitschen was drawn into a widening tax evasion probe linked to carbon trading at Germany's biggest lender on Wednesday as police and tax inspectors raided its offices. READ MORE