US Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff met with Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Florida to discuss a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. Vitkoff called the meeting productive, noting that Russia is working to ensure peace.
US President Donald Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to be the head of the Federal Reserve. After the announcement, stocks and bonds reacted with a decline, as Warsh was previously considered an "inflation hawk."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged the US to respect the country's sovereignty after American diplomats met with the "Alberta Prosperity Project" group, which advocates for the region's secession. The separatists are asking the US for a $500 billion line of credit to support the province's independence.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will not attend the key NATO meeting on February 12, 2026; Elbridge Colby will go instead. Colby is known as a proponent of reducing the US military presence in Europe, which causes concern among allies.
The Trump administration held secret meetings with far-right separatists from Alberta who seek independence. They requested a $500 billion line of credit in case of an independence referendum.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that President Trump can impose 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil without Senate approval. He also highlighted Europe and China's purchases of Russian oil.
General Alexus Grinkevich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO, stated that fewer American troops in Europe would not burden the continent's defense. This comes amid the expected withdrawal of American troops from Europe and their redeployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen informed the US administration about plans to develop a reparation loan system for Ukraine. This initiative involves using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine in 2026-2027, covering two-thirds of its needs amounting to 90 billion euros, with the possibility of providing 165 billion euros.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping could hold up to four meetings next year. This will help maintain the stability of the trade truce between the two countries.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump's proposal to pay $2,000 in tariff "dividends" to US citizens would require congressional approval. According to various reports, Trump's plan could cost the US government twice as much as it was projected to receive in 2025.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the current shutdown is already causing the economy to shrink by almost half. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that due to increasing absenteeism among unpaid air traffic controllers, the number of flights could significantly decrease.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China would buy 12 million tons of soybeans from the US by January as part of a deal struck by President Trump with Xi Jinping. This will allow American farmers to prosper.
China and the US have reached a consensus on important economic issues after the meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. The parties discussed TikTok, tariffs, and rare earth elements, agreeing on further steps.
US President Donald Trump hopes to conclude a trade deal with China during his meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea. He believes it will be a beneficial deal for both sides.
According to the US Treasury Secretary, Dmitryev's statement that US sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil will not affect the Russian economy is untrue. As Bessent said, it is oil that finances the Russian war machine.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a significant push on sanctions against Russia, expected tonight or tomorrow morning. This comes as the US lifts its ban on Ukraine using Western missiles to strike Russian territory and the EU approves its 19th package of sanctions.
Sanae Takaichi became Japan's first female head of government, garnering 237 votes.
Bitcoin recovered to $110,000 amid expectations of a Fed interest rate cut and stabilization of the trade war between the US and China. Other cryptocurrencies such as Ether, XRP, BNB, Solana, Cardano, and Dogecoin also showed growth.
The US Senate is ready to grant President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 500% on China for buying Russian oil. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that this fuels the Russian war machine, as China buys 60% of Russian energy resources.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, reaffirming support for Ukraine's sovereignty. He stressed the importance of increasing pressure on Russia from European allies.
The Dutch government has taken control of the Chinese company Nexperia, a semiconductor manufacturer. This is done to ensure the supply of microchips for automotive and consumer electronics in the Netherlands and Europe.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly yelled at Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko in February during negotiations over a mineral deal. Washington made demands that Ukrainian officials perceived as blackmail, such as granting the US half of the mining rights in Ukraine.
Oil prices remained stable on Tuesday. Brent crude futures fell 0.3% to $67.24 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.3%.
US President Donald Trump will hold a conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday. This was preceded by a successful trade meeting in Europe, where an agreement was also reached regarding a company that "the youth wanted to save."
The US and China are nearing a deal on TikTok, but its conclusion may depend on trade concessions from China. Negotiations in Madrid concern the sale of TikTok by Bytedance and broader economic issues.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the likelihood of new sanctions against Moscow. This is due to the fact that Putin has not changed his behavior after meeting with Trump, intensifying the bombing of Ukrainian cities.
The US Treasury Department has imposed new sanctions against Iran, targeting a network of companies and vessels transporting Iranian oil. The sanctions target Greek national Antonios Margaritis and his network, which facilitated illegal oil exports.
Indian state-owned oil refineries have resumed purchases of Russian Urals oil after a short break. This comes despite criticism from American officials and threats of sanctions.
Russia expects to retain India as a stable oil client, offering discounts of about 5% off the market price. The US is increasing pressure on India over its purchases of Russian oil, imposing duties and accusing it of supporting "Putin's war."
US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent stated that the US sells weapons to Europe, which then resells them to Ukraine with a 10% markup. These funds could be used to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
