Drones Reach Beyond Ukraine as Political Instability Grows in Europe | Weekly News Roundup

<p>Russia’s war against Ukraine is increasingly being felt beyond Ukraine’s borders. In this week’s Talk Eastern Europe News Roundup, Adam Reichardt and Alexandra Karppi discuss the intensifying Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the growing use of faster jet-powered drones and mounting pressure on Ukraine’s air defences.</p><p>They also look at the wider security consequences for the region: a drone crashing in Moldova, repeated NATO fighterscrambles along the eastern flank, and Estonia formally accusing Russia of involvement in an arson attack targeting a defence technology company.</p><p>Elsewhere, Romania remains stuck in a prolonged political crisis as efforts to form a government falter, while renewed discussion in Brussels about EU enlargement raises questions about the prospects of Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro and what happens to countries increasingly left behind in the accession process.</p><p>The episode also looks at the increasingly debated question of Moldova’s future, including speculation about closer integration, or even eventual unification, with Romania.</p><p><strong>TIMESTAMPS</strong></p><p>00:00 Introduction  <br>01:18 Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian cities  <br>04:20 Ukraine’s changing air-defence challenge 06:11 Russian drones spill into Moldova and NATO airspace concerns grow <br>07:59 Estonia accuses Russia over sabotage operation  <br>09:27 Romania’s political crisis and possible snap elections  <br>12:29 Can the EU enlargement process be revived?  <br>14:02 Moldova, Romania and the debate over unification  <br>15:43 Which EU candidates are being left behind?  <br>17:11 This week’s Deep Dive: How far will Russia test NATO?</p><p>Talk Eastern Europe is the podcast from NewEastern Europe magazine - your trusted source for in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the post-Soviet space.</p><p><strong>ABOUT THIS PODCAST</strong></p><p>We publish twice weekly:</p><p>Every Tuesday: Expert Interviews featuring deep dives with leading analysts, journalists, and scholars</p><p>Every Friday: Weekly News Roundup with essential updates and commentary on the latest developments</p><p>Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major platforms.</p><p><strong>Read the New Eastern Europe Magazine </strong></p><p>Bimonthly publication with exclusive long-form analysis. <a href="https://neweasterneurope.eu/become-a-member-of-new-eastern-europe/"