Sanctions
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%.
In Ukraine, investors experience constant tension due to war risks, unpredictable regulatory policies, and pressure from law enforcement agencies. MP Nina Yuzhanina emphasizes the problems of the investment climate, despite the Prosecutor General's Office launching the "StopPressure" platform to combat pressure on businesses.
The owner of an energy distribution company and three officials are suspected of embezzling UAH 68 million. The funds were siphoned off through a fictitious position of an advisor with a million-hryvnia salary.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has published technical documentation and a list of components for the new Russian cruise missile "Izdelie-30". Microchips manufactured in the USA, Switzerland, China, and the Netherlands were found in its navigation system.
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 Palau-flagged tanker Skylight, which is under US sanctions, was attacked off Oman's Musandam Peninsula. Four crew members were injured, and 20 people were evacuated.
The Belgian armed forces, supported by the French defense forces, detained a Russian shadow fleet tanker. The operation was named "Blue Intruder."
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 10 Russian transport and logistics enterprises that support the Russian army and operate in the occupied territories. These companies are also involved in the parallel import of dual-use goods.
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.
The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit to confiscate the tanker Skipper and 1. 8 million barrels of oil involved in a sanctions evasion scheme to finance Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The vessel systematically concealed its routes and falsified location data.
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.
U. S. President Donald Trump announced active negotiations with Cuba regarding its future status, using the term "friendly takeover." Cuban authorities initiated the dialogue due to economic collapse and lack of resources.
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.
Nine servicemen of the Russian Federation have been notified of suspicion of using prohibited means of warfare against Ukrainian defenders. 14 episodes of the use of RG-Vo and K-51 grenades with the poisonous substance CS have been documented, which led to the poisoning of at least seven servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Five years of life - and zero results, - ex-SAP prosecutor on NABU case regarding "Ukrzaliznytsia", in which the prosecution dropped the charges.
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.
The special regime of Defence City, which provides tax and customs preferences for defense manufacturers, has legislative gaps. The requirement for the absence of criminal proceedings complicates access to it for many enterprises.
The Russian war machine is feeling the pressure from sanctions and declining revenues. Businesses in the Nizhny Novgorod region are appealing to officials due to falling investments and profits. Russian regions are facing budget deficits, which increases their dependence on the Kremlin.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with Sky News that regaining all territories is difficult, but Russia cannot win on the battlefield. The President emphasized that surrendering Sloviansk and Kramatorsk is a red line for Ukraine.
The United States has slowed down the sale of international assets of Russian oil giant Lukoil to put pressure on Russia in peace talks on Ukraine. OFAC extended the deadline for concluding deals until April 1, and the next round of negotiations between the US, Russia, and Ukraine is scheduled for March.
Nicolás Maduro's defense asks a New York court to drop charges due to the inability to pay for legal services. The U.S. Treasury Department is blocking funds that Venezuela is ready to provide for the defense.
Global energy markets stabilized after talks in Geneva, where the US and Iran agreed to continue discussions on the nuclear program next week.
The tanker "Seahorse" with Russian diesel fuel for Cuba has stopped in the North Atlantic. This delay threatens to deepen the fuel shortage on the island, where the electricity supply situation is already catastrophic.
The U. S. Department of the Treasury proposes to disconnect the Swiss MBaer Merchant Bank from access to the American banking system. This is due to accusations of facilitating corruption and money laundering for Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced preparations for the next trilateral meeting, which is likely to take place in Abu Dhabi in early March. He discussed this with Rustem Umerov, David Arakhamia, and US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The Russian state corporation "Rosatom" announced that it will continue to implement foreign projects for the construction of nuclear power plants, despite new British sanctions against its subsidiaries. The company considers the restrictions illegitimate and emphasizes its role in peaceful nuclear energy.
President Zelenskyy held talks with international businesses on strengthening energy resilience and preparing for the heating season. The expansion of investments in Ukraine, particularly in the defense-industrial complex, was also discussed.