🇷🇺 Russian FM Sergey Lavrov is set for Istanbul as backchannel diplomacy intensifies. Meanwhile, 🇺🇸 Washington rolls out fresh sanctions on Russia. In Brussels, 🇪🇺 Ursula von der Leyen is reportedly pushing a “Plan B” to sideline Hungary’s Viktor Orban in EU policymaking. Alex Christoforou unpacks all the latest geopolitical moves and power plays shaping the global order.