Europe

Russia’s lawmakers have passed a law authorising the Kremlin to deploy troops abroad to “protect Russian citizens,” effectively granting President Vladimir Putin the power to invade foreign countries. The legislation aims to address perceived injustices faced by Russian citizens abroad, exacerbating concerns over Russia’s military intentions.

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Denmark’s former Queen Margrethe, who abdicated in 2024, has been admitted to Rigshospitalet due to chest pain described as angina. The 86-year-old monarch will remain hospitalised over the weekend for observation. Her health has been a concern following major surgery last year, but she is reportedly in good spirits.

Moscow has initiated a significant daytime aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying hundreds of drones, resulting in at least three fatalities and 12 injuries. Ukrainian military intelligence warns of a sustained attack on critical infrastructure, with drones detected from various directions, including Belarus.

Talking Europe hosts Andrej Plenkovic, the prime minister of Croatia. We unpack the dense agenda of the October 26-27 EU Council and debrief the summit’s conclusions on the Israel-Hamas war, particularly the call for “humanitarian corridors and pauses” to ensure aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. We also discuss developments in southeastern Europe, such as the recent re-introduction of border checks, and ask what those mean for Croatia and the other countries concerned.

Almost a month into the war between Israel and Hamas, the European Union is still struggling to speak with one voice. While EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed unconditional support for Israel, some of her own staff have signed a letter criticising her position, along with employees from other EU institutions. Some EU member states continue to express strong support for Israel, such as the Czech Republic and Hungary, while others worry that such stances may harm the bloc’s image.

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