Sanctions
Ukraine and the United Kingdom will jointly produce a thousand Octopus interceptor drones monthly starting from February 2026. These drones are designed to destroy Shahed-type attack UAVs.
By the end of 2025, the volume of cargo transportation by "Russian Railways" decreased by 5. 6%, which is the lowest figure since 2009. This is a consequence of Western sanctions and the cooling of economic activity in Russia.
Countries that have been waiting for years to join the EU are divided over plans to become members without full voting rights. Some insist on all the benefits, while others are happy to be at the negotiating table.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Moscow shows no interest in peace. She rejected proposals to resume negotiations with Putin.
Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has called for a review of the country's economic model. She advocated for opening the oil industry to foreign investment and normalizing relations with the United States.
The Donald Trump administration has exempted participants of the 2026 World Cup, the 2028 Olympics, and major US leagues from visa restrictions. The exceptions apply only to athletes, coaches, and support staff, while fans remain subject to sanctions.
Oil prices began to fall. This happened after Washington's statements about its intention to refrain from military action against Iran.
The US has sold the first batch of Venezuelan oil for $500 million after the removal of Nicolas Maduro. The funds will be managed by the US President, and Caracas has been removed from decision-making regarding the exploitation of subsoil resources.
Russia is actively helping Iran suppress protests by supplying weapons and internet control technologies. The Kremlin provides discreet assistance, avoiding direct military intervention.
The President of Ukraine met with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Olta Xhaçka. Defense production, EU integration, and Albania's possible accession to the PURL program this year were discussed.
According to the US military, the tanker in question is the "Veronica. " They stated that the tanker's crew "acted in defiance of the quarantine established by President Trump for sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean."
Russia plans to launch a large-scale geological exploration program in Donetsk region in 2026. It is designed to run until 2031 and involves the exploration of deposits of strategic and rare metals.
Near Bangkok, a crane collapsed onto a road, crushing two cars and killing two people. This happened the day after a major accident where a train derailed due to a crane falling, killing 32 passengers.
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine seized 25% of the shares of the "Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works" into state revenue. The High Anti-Corruption Court satisfied the claim against Stanislav Hamzalov, owner of Russian enterprises that supplied goods for the Russian military-industrial complex.
Hungarian energy company Mol Nyrt. is nearing a takeover of Serbia's sole oil refinery as U.S. sanctions force Russia's Gazprom Neft PJSC to sell its controlling stake. Hungary will ask U.S. authorities to lift sanctions on the Serbian refinery.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Russia rejected the peace plan prepared by the US, not Volodymyr Zelensky. He emphasized that Russia's only response was missile attacks, so pressure on it must be increased.
The European Union has revised the price cap on Russian oil to $44. 1/barrel, which will come into effect on February 1, 2026. This mechanism provides for a price review every six months.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister has called for sanctions against Russia's "shadow" grain fleet, which has stolen over 2 million tons of Ukrainian grain. Intelligence has identified 45 vessels involved in the theft, and Ukraine has already imposed sanctions on 43 of them.
Expert Serhiy Shabovta believes that the SBU should investigate the actions of former Deputy Head of the State Aviation Service Ihor Zelinsky, who legalized documents of a sanctioned Russian company. This could have brought millions of dollars in revenue to the Russian Federation.
Netflix plans to change the terms of the deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery assets, switching to an all-cash payment. This will accelerate the sale process, which has been ongoing for several months and has faced resistance from regulators and competitors.
The UN Security Council asked Secretary-General Guterres to provide monthly reports on Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. In response, Russia suggested the Council monitor the Caribbean, where the US is striking drug traffickers.
A Russian oil tanker seized by the US in the Atlantic has arrived in UK territorial waters for resupply. The vessel was escorted by the US Coast Guard and renamed Marinera.
The United States has begun withdrawing some military personnel from bases in Qatar. This is due to Iran's threats to strike American bases in the region.
The US State Department is suspending visa processing for 75 countries, including Russia and Iran, starting January 21. This is due to a review of applicant screening procedures that could lead to a public charge.
The European Commission has approved a legislative package for financial support to Ukraine for 2026-2027 totaling €90 billion. This support includes military aid and general budgetary support, as well as the possibility of using Russian assets.
The government has a real mechanism to seize $300 billion of Russian assets, but ignores it, - Kulyk.
This refers to fifty foreign machine tools that are operating for the Russian military-industrial complex. Among them are equipment of Czech, American, and Chinese production, which is used for manufacturing weapons.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, envoys of Donald Trump, plan to visit Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin. The purpose of the visit is to promote a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
After the US seized tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, 26 vessels of the "shadow fleet" changed their registration to Russian. This provides them with political cover and increases geopolitical risks.
Oil prices fell after four days of gains as Venezuela resumed exports and US crude and product inventories rose. However, concerns about supply disruptions from Iran continue to impact the market.