President Zelenskyy reported that the Russian attack was aimed at damaging Ukraine's energy infrastructure. As a result of the strike, 9 people were injured, the railway was damaged, and Odesa is experiencing heat and water outages.
French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day visit to India, where he will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The main topics of discussion are cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and a potential contract for the supply of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on February 16 in Geneva. The meeting took place ahead of the second round of talks between Tehran and Washington.
Due to the mass breakdown of garbage trucks, the capital of Cuba is on the verge of an ecological catastrophe. This is caused by financial restrictions from the United States and the inability to purchase spare parts.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković rejected Hungary's and Slovakia's request for Russian oil transit, accusing Budapest of manipulation. Hungary called Croatia an "unreliable transit country" seeking a monopoly.
Czech President Petr Pavel stated that there were attempts to interfere with ammunition purchases for Ukraine, but no corruption was recorded. Czechia involved 15 countries and supplied over 4.4 million rounds of ammunition.
President Zelenskyy signed a decree on sanctions against 10 Russian athletes. They support Russian aggression, abduct Ukrainian children, and illegally visit occupied territories.
As noted by intelligence, Ukrainian fighters continue to systematically destroy elements of the Russian Armed Forces' defense on the peninsula. This time, a surface-to-air missile system, a radar station, and a Russian combat boat were hit.
Ukraine and the US discussed large-scale sanctions against Russia, particularly its nuclear energy sector, as well as deepening cooperation in the gas and nuclear spheres. The discussion included the supply of American liquefied natural gas and the use of Ukrainian gas storage facilities.
President Zelenskyy met with US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse. The use of frozen Russian assets to purchase Patriot missiles was discussed.
Ukrainian intelligence has released information on 39 enterprises of the Kalashnikov concern, some of which are still not under sanctions. These companies produce reconnaissance and attack drones, guided munitions, and other military equipment.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that Hungary would support US peace efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Orbán believes that the war would not have started if Donald Trump had been the US president.
Law enforcement officers are still involved in fabricated persecution of businesses, but most judges understand when a case is a setup. Ex-judge Oleksandr Sytnikov spoke about how to recognize pressure on business and the reaction of judges.
Ukraine received a grant of $690 million from Japan and Canada under the G7's ERA mechanism. The funds will be used to finance priority expenditures, including pensions and social programs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Donald Trump could impose sanctions against Russia's entire energy sector. This would be a serious signal for Europeans who have not yet sanctioned Russian nuclear energy.
Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. led a sell-off in Chinese tech stocks after the Pentagon added it to a list of companies aiding the military. The Pentagon later withdrew the list without explanation, but the shares had already fallen.
US military boarded the tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea. This is part of US efforts to stop the illegal transport of oil linked to Venezuela.
Oil is getting cheaper amid IEA forecasts of a record surplus of 3. 7 million barrels per day by 2026. The softening of US rhetoric towards Iran also affects prices.
In Odesa, a group of civilians attacked TCC servicemen during mobilization efforts. The servicemen sustained bodily injuries and chemical burns from tear gas.
Hungary and Slovakia have approached Croatia regarding the transportation of Russian oil via the Adriatic pipeline. This decision is due to the cessation of transit through the Ukrainian branch of the Druzhba oil pipeline after Russian attacks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States does not dispute the results of European allies' investigations into the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. Washington fully trusts the technical and scientific reports of European laboratories.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new aid packages for Ukraine, emphasizing air defense missiles as a priority. Decisions on energy and a new sanctions package against those involved in the war are also expected.
Ukraine is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russian individuals who support the war and use sports for military purposes. President Zelenskyy stated that this would be a signal to the world, as Ukrainians are forbidden from mentioning the victims of Russian aggression at the Olympics.
President Zelenskyy named three key steps for Donald Trump to stop Russian aggression. These are providing security guarantees to Ukraine, demanding Moscow to cease fire, and increasing support for Ukraine if Putin refuses.
Iran is proposing that the United States include an economic component in a new nuclear deal, which would entail mutual benefits in exchange for limiting nuclear activities and easing sanctions. Tehran is talking about possible agreements in the energy, mining, and aviation sectors.
Russians use song contests in Donetsk to militarize Ukrainian children, imposing a cult of war on them. Schoolchildren performed patriotic songs about the heroes of the "Great Patriotic War."
The US Indo-Pacific Command intercepted the Panamanian-flagged tanker Veronica III, which was transporting Iranian oil in violation of sanctions. The vessel was tracked from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Slovakia, where he will meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini. He will discuss US-Slovak relations, regional security, and nuclear energy.
At the Munich Security Conference, Kaja Kallas rejected the notion of a "declining Europe," emphasizing its resilience. She called Russia the main threat but noted that Russia is not a superpower.
The US and Japan are strengthening their strategic partnership, modernizing their economic security relationship. This comes amid a diplomatic standoff with Beijing, which has blocked the supply of components to Japan.
