Sanctions
The US Treasury Department temporarily eases sanctions against Syria for 180 days. This decision coincided with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's historic visit to the White House.
The European Commission is exploring the possibility of obliging EU member states to gradually remove Huawei and ZTE from their telecommunications networks. This could turn a 2020 recommendation into a legal requirement due to deteriorating trade and political ties with China.
Belgium has sought assistance from allies after a series of drone incursions near airports, military bases, and nuclear power plants. Officials say the incidents "resemble" Russian actions, but there is no direct evidence yet.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is at the White House for a historic meeting with Donald Trump. This is the first visit of a Syrian head of state since the country gained independence in 1946.
The US and Switzerland are close to reducing tariffs on exports to 15% instead of 39%. An agreement could be reached within the next two weeks.
The IOC is discussing a complete ban on transgender women participating in women's competitions due to potential physical advantages. Possible changes could come into effect before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but no final decisions have been made yet.
Syria thwarted two ISIS attacks on interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, adding a personal dimension to his plans to join the US coalition. This comes amid the lifting of UN sanctions against the Syrian leader and his visit to Washington.
The Russian company Lukoil informed the Iraqi government about force majeure at the West Qurna-2 field due to US and UK sanctions. Iraq has suspended all payments to Lukoil, which could lead to a halt in production at the field.
The European Union will discuss two main ways to raise financial support for Ukraine: borrowing or using frozen Russian assets. EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels after pledging to cover Ukraine's needs in 2026-2027.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen avoided a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the COP30 conference due to Brussels' demands for London to pay billions of euros. The British leader wanted to discuss dissatisfaction with EU demands for a payment of up to 6.5 billion euros to participate in the "credits for weapons" program and contributions to the EU budget.
Since 2022, the SBU has initiated 208 criminal proceedings regarding the anti-Ukrainian activities of UOC (MP) clerics, including 27 high-ranking church officials. 78 defendants have already been notified of suspicion, and 40 clergymen have been sentenced to imprisonment.
The planned increase in VAT in Russia to 22% from 2026 will not provide the expected revenues, but on the contrary, will lead to a decrease in revenues by 6. 1 billion US dollars. This will increase inflationary pressure, reduce domestic demand, and increase the cost of government borrowing.
New data indicates millions of tons of Russian oil were transshipped through a port partly owned by Macquarie Bank, with potential sales to Australian companies. Australia has imported over 3 million tons of Russian-origin petroleum products since 2023 through third countries, creating loopholes in sanctions.
Brent crude futures rose to $64. 08 a barrel, and US WTI crude to $60.23. This happened amid expectations of a quick end to the US shutdown, which could increase oil demand.
Ukraine expects the European Union to prepare the content of the 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions within a month. Kyiv proposes to add Russian legal entities and individuals who profit from energy resources to the sanctions list.
China's Ministry of Commerce has suspended restrictions on the export of antimony, gallium, and germanium to the United States until November 27, 2026. These metals are essential for semiconductor production and were previously banned from export starting December 2024.
The UK government is investigating the purchase of Russian goods worth £80 million, of which £36. 3 million was for aviation equipment. This occurred in the year leading up to June 2025, despite sanctions prohibiting such transactions.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees on the imposition of personal sanctions against eight individuals and five legal entities. The restrictions apply to Putin's special representative Kirill Dmitriev, former head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Oleksandr Tupitsky, as well as Russian publishing houses.
This move could unlock funding for Kyiv as the EU seeks ways to secure a loan without the risk of non-repayment.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that Donald Trump promised financial assistance in case of pressure on the Hungarian economy. Hungary also received an exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas, committing to purchase American liquefied natural gas.
The European Commission proposes to permanently freeze Russian assets in the EU and use the proceeds to finance Ukraine. Rejection of this plan could lead to annual EU expenditures of 5.6 billion euros, affecting the deficit and debt of individual states.
Kharkiv is experiencing a power shortage, with some districts remaining without electricity due to damage to energy infrastructure. "Kharkivoblenergo" is carrying out emergency repairs, city services are coordinating actions and connecting backup power sources.
Romania and Bulgaria are trying to prevent the shutdown of their critical oil refineries as US sanctions against their Russian owners take effect on November 21. Bulgaria is considering nationalizing Lukoil's refinery in Burgas, while Romania views nationalization as a "last resort" for the Petrotel refinery.
In Kyiv, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions, the elimination of the consequences of the enemy shelling, which included over 450 drones and 45 missiles, is ongoing. Headquarters have been deployed and are working around the clock to restore damaged facilities and provide the population with water, heat, and electricity.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that his country would not support the European Union's idea of using Russian assets to cover Ukraine's military expenses. Fico will not support the use of 140 billion euros from frozen Russian assets to go towards Ukraine's reconstruction or aid.
The enemy launched the most massive attack on Ukrainian thermal power plants since the beginning of the war, completely destroying generation. This happened less than a month after the previous strike.
Lithuanian Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitekūnas called for strengthening sanctions against Russia, especially regarding the energy and financial sectors. He also emphasized the need to strengthen sanctions against Belarus due to hybrid attacks.
Representatives of the EU and the Belgian government have not reached an agreement on the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. Belgium demands legal guarantees and fears lawsuits, while the EU insists on a plan to use 140 billion euros.
Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, firing over 450 attack drones and 45 missiles, targeting residential buildings, energy, and infrastructure. President Zelenskyy emphasized the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia, especially regarding its energy sector and frozen assets.
The United States granted Hungary a one-year waiver from sanctions for using Russian oil and gas after Prime Minister Orban's meeting with President Trump. Hungary pledged to purchase approximately $600 million worth of liquefied natural gas from the US.