A powerful blizzard brought over 76 cm of snow to some areas of the northeastern US, paralyzing traffic. Thousands of homes were left without electricity, and about 7,400 flights were canceled.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine presented a war plan with three goals: close the sky, stop the enemy on all fronts, and deprive Russia of economic resources. This should lead to the largest budget deficit in the history of the Russian Federation.
Ukraine is ready to constructively resolve the dispute over the 'Druzhba' oil pipeline and has proposed realistic solutions, said Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. This comes amid Hungary's blocking of an EU loan for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
In Volyn, a customs official registered eight cargo electric vehicles as passenger cars, resulting in the budget losing over 700,000 hryvnias. He has been notified of suspicion of abuse of office.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, urged Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to implement the EU agreement on providing Ukraine with a €90 billion loan. Hungary is blocking this loan and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.
The recovery of Ukraine's economy over the next decade is estimated at $588 billion. This amount is 12% higher than the previous estimate due to the increasing destruction from the war.
Businesses are constantly looking for ways to work and earn. It's not about superprofits, but rather about survival. Rostyslav Korobka, Vice President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke about the main challenges facing entrepreneurs today and ways to overcome them.
SBU drones attacked the transportation hub at the main oil pumping station "Kaleykino" in Tatarstan on the night of February 23. As a result of the attack, six explosions occurred at the station, and a large-scale fire broke out.
Budapest justified its decision to block the €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine. This caused disappointment among EU foreign ministers.
President Zelenskyy stated that air defense is the most difficult issue, as partners do not provide licenses for the production of Patriot systems or missiles for them. He emphasized that closing the sky would strengthen the economy and the army.
President Zelenskyy thanked Europe for its funding, particularly for the PURL program for air defense procurement. He noted that some countries provide sufficient aid, others provide little, and some block it.
The Czech Republic will not be able to fulfill its obligations to NATO by 2026 due to cuts in military spending. The government plans to limit the Ministry of Defense's expenditures, which will affect the creation of a heavy brigade for the alliance.
The Czech Republic received 11. 7 billion crowns (482.6 million euros) from the work of Ukrainian refugees. This exceeded state spending on humanitarian aid, which amounted to 32 billion crowns (1.336 billion euros) over four years.
Protests took place in Warsaw against Poland's participation in the European defense project SAFE. The opposition demands a veto on the bill, which, in their opinion, threatens the country's sovereignty.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on Hungary's blocking of European aid to Ukraine. He noted that this benefits certain forces, including those from Russia.
The Ministry of Finance of Belarus has published the parameters of the consolidated budget for 2026, where revenues will increase by 17% and expenditures by 15. 8%, with a deficit already included. The share of gratuitous receipts from foreign states has increased to 7.2%, which indicates dependence on subsidies from Moscow.
U. S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 10% tariff on all imports. This decision comes after the Supreme Court ruled previous tariffs illegal.
The Specialized Prosecutor's Office has sent to court cases against two groups of servicemen who traded diesel fuel for the army. In total, the theft of almost 75 tons of fuel was documented.
The state-owned Russian VTB Bank initiated the bankruptcy of the "First Oil" group due to a debt of $78. 3 million. The assets of the company, which produces up to 500,000 tons of oil per year, will come under the control of state structures.
Estonia and Latvia have begun implementing the Baltic Defense Line, purchasing 600 bunkers to fortify their eastern border. This project, worth 60 million euros, is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Russia's economy entered 2026 with very low indicators, including a record regional budget deficit of 1. 538 trillion rubles. Pressure on small businesses will increase, and regions will be left alone with debts.
Ukraine has agreed to attract over 600 million euros in financial and technical assistance for the restoration of its energy sector. The country will also receive equipment from at least six decommissioned European combined heat and power plants (CHPPs) and thermal power plants (TPPs).
Starting March 2026, the National Bank of Ukraine will withdraw 1, 2, 5, and 10 hryvnia banknotes from the 2003–2007 series from circulation, replacing them with corresponding coins. Citizens will be able to exchange these banknotes indefinitely at the NBU and for several years at other banks.
The Trump administration is threatening European countries with retaliatory measures if the EU prioritizes domestic arms manufacturers. The Pentagon warned that restricting access for American arms manufacturers to the European market would provoke a reaction.
The head of the food supply service of the rear of an Armed Forces brigade has been notified of suspicion of illicit enrichment and money laundering. He spent over UAH 10.3 million on luxury, including land rental in Bali, while systematically failing to report for duty.
NABU has been collecting compromising material for 10 years, not filling the budget, says the former secretary of the Polish delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
Economist Bohdan Dolintse stated that Defence City has significant advantages but is not a universal solution for all market players. He highlighted the lack of incentives for production localization and formal barriers for potential residents.
Ukraine could export military goods and services worth "several billion dollars" this year. The possibility of introducing a tax on these exports is being considered.
The IMF Executive Board will consider a new $8. 1 billion loan program for Ukraine in the coming days, which will replace the current agreement. It is aimed at supporting economic stability and government spending during the war.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to allocate additional subsidies to local budgets. This will ensure timely payment of salaries in the educational and social spheres from January 1, 2026.
