Continuing border skirmishes and incidents have hampered efforts to officially demarcate the border between the countries. Concern is growing about the stability of the late 2020 Moscow-negotiated armistice.

Last week, the participants in the OPEC+ deal agreed on a gradual increase in oil production from August, ending discussions that lasted around three weeks.

The country exported 13.546 million tonnes of oil for $5.744 billion and 10.348 billion cubic metres of natural gas for $1.586 billion in the first half of 2021.

The reality is none of the three countries are formal candidates for EU membership in the near future.

The skirmishes have stirred concern about the stability of a late 2020 Moscow-negotiated armistice.