EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the people who booed US Vice President J. D. Vance at the Winter Olympics showed "European pride." This occurred after a series of critical remarks about Europe from American officials.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that a peace agreement with Ukraine is impossible without taking into account Russia's security interests. He called this a key factor in ending hostilities.
Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu arrived in Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. He expressed solidarity with Ukraine and commitment to peace.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Hungary and Slovakia next week. The visit comes after Donald Trump endorsed Viktor Orban, who is trailing in the polls ahead of the elections.
Tom Berendsen, known for his support of Ukraine, will become the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands on February 23. The new minority government united three parties, and Berendsen represents the Christian Democratic Appeal.
Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal announced complex electricity supply schedules for Tuesday and Wednesday due to low temperatures. He also mentioned a review of the list of critical infrastructure facilities and increased control over electricity distribution.
According to the Munich Security Conference report, the world has entered a period of politics of destroying the existing order. This is due to the fact that political forces that prefer destruction are gaining momentum in many Western societies.
The European Union is considering options for including Ukraine's membership in a peace agreement, including protection and immediate access to membership rights. The draft peace plan envisages EU accession in 2027, and the EU confirms that future accession is part of the discussions.
Heat supply has been restored in the Desnianskyi district of Kyiv. However, as of the morning of February 8, 1126 buildings in the Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts remained without heat.
Defence City has officially launched in Ukraine, offering tax benefits and simplified procedures for defense enterprises. The first resident is a drone manufacturer, but experts point to risks and the need to refine the regime.
The Ukrainian Association of Football is negotiating with European associations regarding the status of Ukrainian footballers. Agreements have already been reached with France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands.
The European Commission will ask Meta to suspend new terms that prohibit rival AI chatbots from using WhatsApp. This is due to concerns that Meta is violating the bloc's antitrust rules.
Ukraine and France have agreed on joint arms production in both countries. This paves the way for large-scale projects in the defense industry.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha advocated for a complete ban on entry to the EU for Russian citizens who participated in the aggression against Ukraine. He emphasized that this would ensure the national security of European states and serve as the price for making the wrong choice.
The European Union is preparing for a week of intense diplomatic meetings, including a meeting of defense ministers, an economic summit, and the Munich Security Conference. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend the Munich Conference.
Spain's ruling Socialist Party suffered a defeat in the snap regional elections in Aragon on February 8, securing 18 seats. The conservative People's Party leads with 26 seats, while the far-right Vox doubled its representation to 14 mandates.
The European Union and China have settled a trade dispute by agreeing on mechanisms for controlling electric car prices. Chinese car manufacturers will avoid tariffs if they adhere to a price threshold and invest in production in the EU.
Ukraine seeks to obtain Western security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that any recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea or Donbas will be legally invalid.
President Zelenskyy signed decrees on new sanctions against companies producing Russian missiles and drones, as well as against the Russian financial sector. These measures are aimed at stopping the supply of components for weapons and the functioning of the crypto market.
Polish border guards detained a Ukrainian who attempted to transport 12 illegal migrants from Lithuania. The driver was waiting for the group near the village of Sadzawki in a bus with German license plates.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán called Ukraine an enemy of his state, arguing that it threatens to increase the cost of living for Hungarians if the supply of cheap resources from Russia stops.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Russian attacks on the energy system are leading to a decrease in the capacity of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. He called on the world to stop Russia by imposing sanctions against Rosatom and strengthening Ukraine's air defense.
Ukraine received 300 generators with a total capacity of 1650 kW, worth over 417 thousand euros, from the Southeast European Cooperation Initiative (SECI). The equipment will be distributed among Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Lviv for social institutions.
The European Commission presented the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on maritime transportation of Russian oil. The Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Sanctions, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, spoke about the 24% drop in Russia's oil revenues and the 36% increase in budget expenditures.
President Zelenskyy met with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, discussing Ukraine's needs for air defense missiles and additional contributions to the PURL program. Estonia is considering increasing its contributions and continues to implement humanitarian projects.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the EU is ready for negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. However, the European Union will not open parallel communication channels.
The European Union Court has allowed the confiscation of cars belonging to Russian citizens that were imported into the EU in violation of the sanctions regime. These vehicles are not subject to registration and may be seized.
Ukraine seeks to soften an unpopular tax bill concerning VAT for individual entrepreneurs, which the IMF demands. This is a condition for unlocking more than $8 billion under the financing program.
According to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Chinese investments in Russia since 2022 do not exceed $17. 4 billion. Chinese investors avoid investing in sectors that could fall under secondary sanctions.
People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced that the parliament would postpone the consideration of financial bills for a month. This means that the IMF and EU issues will not be resolved before March.
