—❗️🇷🇸 URGENT: Serbian students issue ultimatum for snap elections by June 28 or face civil disobedience.

Protesters vow nationwide disruption if demands are unmet by 9 p.m. on Vidovdan, one of Serbia’s most significant religious and national holidays. A major demonstration is planned for this day in Belgrade.

📰 Source: The National Independent

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—❗️🇷🇺/🇷🇸/🇺🇦 NEW: Russia’s SVR claims Serbia supplied ammunition to Ukraine via Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

Russian intelligence alleges Serbian manufacturers knowingly routed artillery shells and components through third-party firms, ultimately reaching Ukrainian forces.

📰 Source: Reuters

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—❗️UPDATE: Serbia halts all arms exports.

➡️ Aleksandar Vučić announced Serbia has completely suspended arms and ammunition exports, citing intense pressure from both domestic and foreign actors, including threats of organized protests at defense enterprises.

➡️ He stated all future exports will require explicit authorization from the National Security Council and be conducted transparently. Vučić mentioned only two current contracts— with Cyprus and Azerbaijan—will proceed under strict conditions that prevent re-exportation.

➡️ The move follows allegations by Russia’s SVR intelligence agency that Serbian arms were being covertly rerouted to Ukraine via intermediaries in NATO countries like the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

📰 Source: TASS

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—❗️🇷🇸/🇺🇦/🇷🇺 UPDATE: Serbian PM vows no arms to Ukraine.

Đuro Macut, in his first foreign media interview, declared Serbia will not supply weapons to Ukraine while he serves on the National Security Council. He reaffirmed Serbia’s alignment with President Vučić’s policy requiring council approval for any arms exports, and emphasized Serbia-Russia “fraternal ties”.

📰 Source: TASS

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—🇦🇱/🇮🇹 PM Edi Rama on Albania-Italy relations:

Practically we are one country made of two independent countries.

📰 Source: kos_data via The Guardian

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—❗️🇷🇸 URGENT: Serbian police arrest three men over plot to violently overthrow the government.

The suspects—I.M., N.A., and B.M.—were apprehended after a June 21 meeting in Kraljevo where they allegedly conspired to carry out a “violent change of power.” Authorities found a pistol and ammunition; prosecutors say the men pledged not to return home “until they had killed or destroyed” key officials.

📰 Source: Gazeta Express

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🇺🇸🤝🇪🇺❌🇷🇺-Bloomberg reports that despite historic increases in defense spending, many European nations are growing hesitant to purchase U.S. weapons.

➡️Concerns stem from Donald Trump’s unpredictable approach to NATO, his soft rhetoric on Russia, and repeated threats toward European allies.

➡️EU and Canadian leaders are now reportedly considering shifting procurement to European and Swedish defense firms, while also fast-tracking the establishment of an independent defense fund.

—❗🇷🇸 Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić: "The ultimatum has not been accepted. You don’t have to wait until tomorrow at 9 p.m. Serbia never accepts ultimatums"

📰 Source: The National Independent

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🇵🇱💰🇷🇴 — 🇪🇺📰 Central European Times | Polish investors step up Romania acquisitions

Polish companies have acquired a wave of Romanian businesses since early 2023, targeting sectors such as tourism, wine, retail and printing. The string of deals is transforming Romania’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market and signalling Poland’s growing role as a regional investor.

Maspex Group, Poland’s leading food and beverage producer, announced a voluntary bid to acquire a controlling stake in Purcari Wineries, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, on 2 May. The deal, valued at over RON 420mn (EUR 84mn), would give Maspex a majority position in one of the region’s most dynamic wine producers, subject to regulatory approval.

Later that month, Polish travel agency Rainbow Tours signed a preliminary agreement to acquire 70% of Romanian travel firm Paralela 45. The transaction, expected to close by the end of June and subject to clearance by Romania’s Competition Council, is intended to give Rainbow Tours a foothold in the Romanian tourism market.

The Polish retail group Zabka, often referred to as the country's answer to 711, entered Romania in late 2024 under the Froo brand. As of May 2025, Zabka was operating 29 Froo convenience stores in Romania, which management says offers a “dynamic retail environment” that dovetails with its regional strategy.

In the industrial sector, label manufacturer Prime Label acquired Romanian printer Grafoprint in November 2024. The deal marked the sixth cross-border acquisition by the Innova Capital-backed company in five years, underlining the trend of consolidation across CEE.

M&A Barometer data from EY Romania shows the share of domestic deals fell from 51% in Q4 2024 to 43% in Q1 2025, with foreign-led transactions rising to 57%. Poland is now among the top five sources of foreign investment in Romania, the Romanian National Investment Agency confirmed, as bilateral trade between the two countries surpassed EUR 11bn in 2023, up 27% from 2020.

Both Poland and Romania also participate in the Three Seas Initiative, which fosters cross-border infrastructure and investment, local media noted.

Further Polish acquisitions are expected in Romania this year, particularly in retail, logistics and services, according to recent sector reports. Market watchers say continued capital inflows are set to reshape the Romanian business landscape and further integrate the two economies.

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—❗️🇷🇸 BREAKING: The President of Serbia says violence can be expected today in Belgrade between 8:45PM and 9:45PM, and assured that the State is prepared for it.

Source: The National Independent

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—❗️🇷🇸 NEW: People are gathering across Belgrade and making their way to Slavija Square for today’s student-led protests.

🔗 The National Independent

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—🇽🇰/🇷🇸 NEW: Kosovar police has arrested a dozen Serbs at the Gazimestan gathering commemorating Vidovdan, one of the most important religious and national holidays for Serbs.

📰 Source: The National Independent

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—❗️🇷🇸 BREAKING: Student-led protests are about to begin in Belgrade, with massive crowds already filling the streets of the Serbian capital.

🔗 The National Independent

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—❗️🇷🇸 NEW: People are pouring into Slavija Square in Belgrade to join student-led protests demanding snap elections.

🔗 The National Independent

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