Two Greek F-16 fighter jets based in Cyprus were scrambled after a drone was detected near Lebanese airspace. The airspace over Larnaca airport was temporarily closed.
11 countries and the EU have decided to boycott the opening of the Paralympic Games in Italy due to the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes with their flags and anthems.
European officials are concerned that a US operation against Iran will divert attention from the war in Ukraine. This could lead to a decrease in US arms supplies and a weakening of support for Kyiv.
Ukraine's desire for accelerated accession to the European Union has met with resistance from EU governments unwilling to open a "Pandora's box" of problems. President Zelenskyy seeks accession by 2027 as part of a peace agreement, but member states express skepticism.
France will send a warship to Cyprus to strengthen air defense after a drone attack on a British base. Great Britain is considering sending the destroyer HMS Duncan to protect the Akrotiri airbase.
From the end of 2026, Ukrainians traveling to the EU will have to undergo a paid electronic ETIAS authorization costing 20 euros. This system does not cancel the visa-free regime, but requires prior permission for short-term trips.
Ukraine is under pressure from the EU to allow inspection of the damaged Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Kyiv claims significant damage from a Russian airstrike, but Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of deliberately blocking it.
Iranian drones and missiles flew over the Middle East, reaching Cyprus. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed solidarity with the affected countries and condemned Iran's destabilizing role.
Ukraine has agreed to help Great Britain counter Iranian drones, which has not only a military but also a political dimension. Expert Stanislav Zhelikhovsky explained how this will strengthen Ukraine's position and affect global security.
President Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's technical readiness to open all six negotiation clusters for EU accession. He emphasized that the political readiness of some EU leaders remains questionable due to the aggressor's influence.
Zelenskyy stated that the issue of changing European legislation to confiscate oil from detained vessels of Russia's "shadow fleet" is being discussed.
Mutual trade between the European Union and Russia has decreased by 5. 4 times compared to the period before the full-scale invasion. Russia has lost its status as a key partner of Europe, and its share in European imports has fallen to 1.0%.
The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office is investigating the detention of the tanker Ethera, suspected of sailing under a false flag and using forged documents. The vessel was arrested in the port of Zeebrugge due to possible circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet."
The Ukrainian leader urged Europe to change legislation so that such vessels are not only stopped but also seized, with Russian oil redirected to security needs.
The Swedish Ministry of Defense has revealed details of an incident involving a Russian drone that was tracking the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The apparatus was launched from the Russian reconnaissance ship "Zhigulevsk," but Swedish forces neutralized the espionage equipment.
Kaja Kallas will hold an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council due to Iran. She condemns the attacks by the Iranian regime, which threaten a wider war in the Middle East.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told ships that passage through the Strait of Hormuz is not permitted. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil export route.
Arkady Volozh, co-founder of the Yandex search engine, officially renounced his Russian citizenship. The reason was EU sanctions imposed on the company in 2022.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban escalated the conflict with Ukraine ahead of the elections to boost his ratings. He called the suspension of oil transit an attack on the country.
Ukraine is assessing significant damage after Russian drone attacks on a key facility of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which could complicate the issue of EU aid to Kyiv and sanctions against Moscow. Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of withholding supplies, blocking EU aid.
Slovak President Robert Fico agreed to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal to hold talks on all aspects of Ukrainian-Slovak cooperation. This happened after discussing problems with oil transit through Ukraine.
Before being damaged by a Russian strike, Ukrainian and Russian oil was transported via the Druzhba pipeline. The halt in supplies deprives Ukraine of export revenues and funding.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico discussed the transit of oil through the "Druzhba" pipeline with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He proposes creating a joint inspection group to verify its functioning, as Slovakia and Hungary cannot receive paid oil.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico have agreed to establish an investigative commission regarding the Druzhba oil pipeline. Orbán called on President Zelenskyy to grant access to it.
In January 2026, the Renault Clio became the bestseller in the European new car market, selling 14,660 units. This was due to the hybrid version and an increase in corporate sales in France and Italy.
The new IMF program for Ukraine, worth $8. 1 billion, will be reviewed in case of successful peace talks. It is aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability and expanding structural reforms.
The International Monetary Fund has approved an extended financing program for Ukraine totaling $8. 1 billion. The first tranche of $1.5 billion will be disbursed to the budget in the near future.
Graffiti insulting Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Lytvynenko appeared in the center of the Serbian city of Novi Sad. This happened a day after the monument to Taras Shevchenko was damaged.
Ukraine and Latvia have agreed on mutual recognition of electronic signatures, which gives Ukrainian qualified electronic signatures (QES) legal force in Latvia. This simplifies interaction for Ukrainians and businesses, allowing them to use Diia.Signature-EU for digital services.
The Czech Republic proposes that the European Union discuss adjusting temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees, possibly with a limitation of its scope. In the Czech Republic, there are over 398,000 Ukrainians with temporary protection, with about six thousand people arriving monthly.
