Brussels, October 16 (TASR) – Russian opposition to hosting next year’s United Nations climate summit in a European Union country has countries scrambling to find a timely alternative to hosting the massive global event. Nearly 200 countries meet each year for a two-week “Conference of the Parties” – known as a COP – to agree on a joint effort to combat climate change. This year, the 28th such conference, or COP28, will begin in Dubai on November 30. The event rotates around the world's regions and is set to take place in Eastern Europe next year, but geopolitical tensions over the war in Ukraine have so far prevented the region from agreeing on a location. Russia opposed this earlier this year, to hold COP29 in a European Union country. The EU condemned the invasion of Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow for the war. Armenia and Azerbaijan have also offered to host COP29 – but each is expected to veto the other, amid heightened tensions after Azerbaijan launched a military operation last month. recaptured the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. (Kate Abnett)