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.
The Hungarian prime minister called for the creation of a special "mission" to include representatives not only from Hungary but also from Slovakia, as these countries depend on Russian energy carriers.
The first battery is expected in 2027 amid last year's drone incidents over strategic facilities.
The US Secretary of State stated that the administration continues to pressure Moscow by imposing sanctions and selling weapons to Ukraine. The US is the only country that can be a catalyst for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sent an open letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the letter, Orban accuses Ukraine of blocking the Druzhba oil pipeline and demands its immediate restoration.
Countries in the 'coalition of the willing' have acknowledged that deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine would require Putin's consent. This could derail the British-French plan for upholding a ceasefire.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has intensified his anti-Ukrainian campaign ahead of elections, blocking EU aid packages to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. This comes as his party trails by 20 points in the polls.
Eight countries and the EU will boycott the opening ceremony of the 2026 Paralympic Games due to the admission of Russians and Belarusians. Ukrainian diplomats are working to increase the number of such states.
The European Commission is discussing with the European Parliament and member states options to secure a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine. This is happening against the backdrop of Budapest's blockade, despite prior agreement, confirmed European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted a draft law that updates the rules for the functioning of scientific infrastructure in accordance with EU standards. The document also strengthens support for young scientists by introducing the concept of "postdoctoral researcher" and expanding grant opportunities.
President Zelenskyy positively assessed the signing of the EU loan for Ukraine of 90 billion euros by the President of the European Parliament, calling it a "significant guarantee. " He emphasized the importance of this decision coming into effect for Ukraine "as soon as possible and as effectively as possible."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the European Commission's commitment to help restore Ukraine's energy infrastructure one of the most important outcomes of the meetings. The European Commission will support the repair and strengthening of the energy grid's protection before next winter.
The leaders of Ukraine and the NB8 countries condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine and call for an immediate end to the invasion. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and its Euro-Atlantic path.
The Minister of Energy announced that a meeting of the energy "Ramstein" will take place in March. The European Union has allocated 920 million euros to support Ukraine.
