European Union
A Unity Hub center may appear in Prague by June to help Ukrainian refugees return home. The project will be jointly funded by Ukraine, the Czech Interior Ministry and the EU.
Ukraine is ready to start consultations with the European Commission on tariff liberalization. This was stated by Ihor Zhovkva at a meeting with the French Minister of Foreign Trade.
The European Commission intends to extend the requirement for 90% occupancy of gas storage facilities after 2024. The largest storage countries are negotiating to reduce this limit due to the risk of speculation.
The Ministry of Health declares that there is no scientific evidence of the safety of tobacco products for electric heating. Ukraine tightens anti-tobacco legislation and introduces new restrictions on sales and advertising.
Russian billionaires Friedman and Aven sold their stakes in Alfa-Bank to their partner Kosogov for 240 billion rubles. The sale of assets was made in order to challenge EU sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine's state and guaranteed debt reached $166. 1 billion. The weighted average cost of debt decreased from 7.79% to 5.09%, and the maturity increased from 6.27 to 12.26 years.
Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to negotiate with Putin in the presence of Ukraine's partners. The Kremlin also declared its openness to talks, despite previous statements about Zelenskyy's “illegitimacy.
The European Commission plans to tighten customs control of goods from Asian marketplaces due to dangerous products. It is considering abolishing the exemption from customs duties on imports of goods below 150 euros.
Latvia is fully prepared to synchronize with the European power grid on February 8-9. President Rinkēvičs warns of possible provocations and disinformation from Russia.
EU and US shipowners have sold 230 obsolete tankers to shell companies to circumvent Russian sanctions. More than half of the vessels were sold to Greek companies for $3.7 billion.
Georgia's ruling party is initiating a new law on media that will limit its funding from foreign sources. The bill will be based on British legislation and will set standards of objectivity and journalistic ethics.
The HACC upheld the claim of the Ministry of Justice and seized Vyacheslav Zanevsky's assets for the benefit of the state. The confiscated property includes a company, 12 land plots, apartments and cash.
The economic crisis in Hungary threatens Viktor Orban's victory in the 2026 elections. High inflation, falling living standards, and a declining birth rate are undermining the Fidesz party's position.
Ukrenergo's Supervisory Board has announced a competition for the position of the company's CEO. The competition will be supported by Korn Ferry, one of the global executive search consultancies.
The EU plans to use an “anti-coercion tool” in response to possible US duties on European goods. Brussels could hit the US technology sector and restrict intellectual property rights.
The US Department of Defense is preparing a plan for the complete withdrawal of troops from Syria within 30-90 days. There are currently about 2,000 US troops in the country, including 1,100 temporary rotational forces.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister has no confirmation of a meeting with Marco Rubio at an expanded meeting of foreign ministers in Paris. Sibiga expects the possibility of such a conversation in the near future.
The European Commission wants to start negotiations with the US as soon as possible to prevent the imposition of new duties. The EU is ready for difficult negotiations and to protect its own interests in trade.
The Ministry of Justice is preparing a draft law on criminal liability for violating and circumventing sanctions. Violators will face fines of up to 120000 nmdg, imprisonment for up to 10 years and confiscation of property.
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede announced early parliamentary elections on March 11. The main issues of the campaign will be independence from Denmark and protection from US claims, with the majority of the population supporting the idea of sovereignty.
During the Core Group meeting in Brussels, the legal framework for the Special Tribunal against Russia was laid down. The tribunal will have the power to prosecute Russian political and military leaders.
The leader of the Fidesz faction reported on the warnings of the special services regarding the Ukrainian campaign to discredit Orban. According to him, Ukraine has spent considerable money on spreading false materials through the media.
The investigation revealed that one-third of Russia's “shadow fleet” consists of tankers sold by US and EU companies after the war began. The sale brought billions of euros to the former owners.
Jens Stoltenberg has been appointed Minister of Finance of Norway in the new government. The appointment follows the Center Party's withdrawal from the government over disputes over EU energy directives.
The United States agrees to a 30-day pause in customs threats against Mexico and Canada following their border security moves. Canada appoints a “fentanyl czar” and adds Mexican cartels to the list of terrorist groups.
Ukraine has the largest reserves of lithium and titanium in Europe, as well as other valuable deposits. Russia has already occupied 33% of rare earth mineral deposits, and the United States is interested in gaining access to Ukrainian resources.
EU leaders support Denmark's territorial integrity and oppose US plans for Greenland. NATO proposes to increase its military presence in the Arctic region with the participation of its northern allies.
Currently, Ukrainians buy more than $1 billion worth of foreign currency every month, which puts pressure on the hryvnia.
An alliance of rebel groups in eastern DR Congo has announced a humanitarian ceasefire. According to the UN, 900 people were killed in the recent battles for Goma, and more than 400,000 became refugees.
The German Chancellor opposed Trump's proposal to provide aid to Ukraine in exchange for rare earth metals. According to Scholz, Ukraine needs the resources to rebuild itself after the war.