MAIN TAKEAWAY OF THE MONTH
Considering the Ukrainian resistance to Russian invasion, the war in Ukraine has become a protracted war, as most Russian advances appear to have been halted. Negotiations have been ongoing between the two sides, little substantial changes have taken place, with the Russian side promising to reduce its forces near Kyiv, while airstrikes still continue. Meanwhile, Western nations look to coordinate their efforts and impose further sanctions on Moscow while finding ways to reduce their reliance on Russian gas. At its turn, Russia has asked that its clients pay in rubles for energy – something that countries such as Germany and France have rejected. At the same time, tensions remain high in the Balkans, with elections being scheduled for April 3rd in Serbia and for May 24th in Albania, as well as a deadlock in Bosnia and Herzegovina over Russian-EU alignment in what regards its strategy and even its future as a country.