Sanctions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian missiles and drones contain thousands of components that Russia does not produce. These include parts from China, Europe, the USA, and Japan, which highlights the aggressor's dependence on foreign supplies.
Yulia Svyrydenko instructed to accelerate the audit of "dormant" licenses for strategic minerals and oil and gas subsoil. Systemic solutions in the field of subsoil use are expected in March, and the first sanctioned assets will be put up for auction.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of 2,000 Ukrainian children from Russia's control. Thousands of children remain hostages of the Russian Federation, he emphasized.
The GUR recorded Starlink disconnections among Russian occupiers along the entire front line. Russians are forced to use low-quality Gazprom terminals, which do not provide stable communication.
SBU drones carried out a deep strike on the Metafrax Chemicals plant in the Perm Krai, which is one of the largest methanol producers. The plant produces chemical components for explosives and is under sanctions.
The European Commission has confirmed plans to adopt a new package of sanctions against Russia by February 24. This marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
France allowed the GRINCH tanker to leave its waters after the owning company paid a multi-million euro fine. The vessel was detained on suspicion of sanctions evasion and belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet."
The EU Council has updated the list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, adding Vietnam and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Fiji, Samoa, and Trinidad and Tobago were removed from the list, leaving 10 countries and territories.
Iranian media confirmed indirect talks between the US and Iran in Geneva. Iran demands a complete lifting of sanctions and confidence-building measures regarding its nuclear program.
One Russian 'Shahed/Geran' type drone can contain up to 12 transistors manufactured by the German company Infineon Technologies. Russia receives these components through shadow schemes, bypassing sanctions.
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.