Europe

MADRID (AP) — Surging energy prices and fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are making European leaders think hard about energy security — particularly their decades-old reliance on Moscow for natural gas.

21 Feb 2022; MEMO: The Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Greece met today in the Greek capital, Athens, in an effort to resolve tensions and improve relations.

According to a Twitter post by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the meeting that took place between deputy Foreign Minister, Sedat Onal, and his Greek counterpart, Kostas Fragkogiannis, was the third working meeting to improve and advance dialogue between the two neighbours.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia set the stage for a quick move to secure its hold on Ukraine’s rebel regions on Tuesday with new legislation that would allow the deployment of troops there as the West prepares to announce sanctions against Moscow amid fears of a full-scale invasion.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/: The government has been preparing for many months to the consequences of recognizing the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at a Security Council meeting.

"We have already been preparing many months for the possible response to the recognition of LPR and DPR. I mean in the first instance import substitution and the analysis of all risks we can face in case of making such a decision," the Prime Minister said.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/: Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 152,337, a new low since February 2, over the past day to 15,522,756, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Monday.

In relative terms, the growth rate reached 0.99%.

As many as 8,835 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized in Russia in the past day, down 14.8% from a day earlier. Meanwhile, in 53 regions the number of those hospitalized has decreased, while in 31 regions the number has increased, according to the crisis center. The situation remained unchanged in one region.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/: Moscow intends to take part in the upcoming Astana group’s foreign ministers meeting on Syria initiated by Turkey, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an address to participants in the Eleventh Middle East Conference hosted by the Valdai International Discussion Club. His address was read out by Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/: The Munich Security Conference, instead of discussing its core subject, indulged in disinformation campaigns and fabricating fakes, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on television on Monday.

"The Munich Security Conference turned out to be another in a series of platforms employed [for fabricating groundless charges]. Generally speaking, its mission is to address political security issues, while in reality it has been indulging in disinformation attacks, spreading fakes and demonstrating its own imbecility," Zakharova said.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/: Threats to Russia’s security will increase significantly in the event of Ukraine's admission to NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

"If Russia faces such a threat as Ukraine’s admission to the North Atlantic Alliance, to NATO, then the threats to our country will increase many times," Putin said and recalled Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty "from which it is clear that all the countries of the alliance must fight on the side of one of their members if one Ally is considered as under attack."

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Britain's elections watchdog asked the government on Monday to reconsider proposed changes to its oversight arrangements, warning they could impact its independence.

The government is hoping to pass wide-ranging legislation to update the laws around elections with what it calls the aim of protecting the health of Britain's democracy.

WINDSOR, England, Feb 21 (Reuters) - After the shame of Prince Andrew's U.S. sex abuse lawsuit and Prince Charles embroilment in a cash for honours scandal, Queen Elizabeth catching COVID-19 has rounded off a week of terrible news for the British royals.

Buckingham Palace said on Sunday the monarch, who turns 96 in two months, was suffering mild symptoms after testing positive for the virus. But growing health fears and scandals involving the family are threatening to overshadow national celebrations to mark her 70th anniversary on the throne.