China
Tom Berendsen, known for his support of Ukraine, will become the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands on February 23. The new minority government united three parties, and Berendsen represents the Christian Democratic Appeal.
NATO plans to launch the Arctic Sentry military mission in the Arctic, specifically in Greenland, to strengthen its presence and reduce tensions between the US and European allies. The launch could take place this week during the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
Norwegian special services have published a security assessment for 2026, in which Russia is named the main threat. The likelihood of sabotage against support for Ukraine and the intensification of Russian intelligence activities is increasing.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia remains open to cooperation with the United States, but does not hope for a restoration of economic ties. He noted that the United States seeks economic dominance.
The European Union is preparing for a week of intense diplomatic meetings, including a meeting of defense ministers, an economic summit, and the Munich Security Conference. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend the Munich Conference.
Taiwan rejected a US proposal to relocate 40% of its semiconductor manufacturing capacity, calling it impossible. Taiwan's Vice Premier stated that the island's semiconductor ecosystem would develop domestically.
The European Union and China have settled a trade dispute by agreeing on mechanisms for controlling electric car prices. Chinese car manufacturers will avoid tariffs if they adhere to a price threshold and invest in production in the EU.
Vietnam has begun diversifying its arms purchases, moving away from Russian defense technologies in favor of Western standards. The country is negotiating with France for Rafale fighter jets and modernizing its army with the help of Israel and South Korea.
China has commuted the death sentence of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, convicted of drug trafficking, signaling a diplomatic thaw. This follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China to strengthen trade ties.
In February 2026, Bitcoin fell to $63,000, and the crypto market lost $2 trillion in capitalization since October 2025. This caused a drop in the shares of companies with large crypto reserves and increased nervousness in stock markets.
Internal assessments by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development indicate the continued critical dependence of the economy on imports of high-tech products. This casts doubt on the realism of Russia's plans to achieve technological independence by 2030.
The Kremlin continues to reject security guarantees for Ukraine, citing the 2022 "Istanbul Protocol. " This document would leave Ukraine defenseless against aggression.
The European Commission presented the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on maritime transportation of Russian oil. The Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Sanctions, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, spoke about the 24% drop in Russia's oil revenues and the 36% increase in budget expenditures.
The US accused China of conducting a secret nuclear test in 2020, calling for a new arms control treaty. China denies the accusations, calling them an exaggeration of the nuclear threat.
According to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Chinese investments in Russia since 2022 do not exceed $17. 4 billion. Chinese investors avoid investing in sectors that could fall under secondary sanctions.
Toyota CEO Koji Sato is stepping down after three years, to be replaced by CFO Kenta Kon. This leadership change is intended to strengthen internal governance and accelerate decision-making amidst competition.
US President Donald Trump refused to extend the New START nuclear treaty, calling it a "poorly negotiated deal. " He stated that the US is focused on creating a new, modernized treaty.
Chinese scientists have developed the TPG1000Cs device, capable of generating 20 gigawatts of power for a minute. This weapon can damage Starlink satellites and other electronics in low Earth orbit.
About a third of the countries participating in the military AI summit agreed to regulate the use of the technology in combat. However, military giants China and the US refused to participate.
The price of gold rose by 2. 3% to $4879.45 per ounce, while silver increased by 3.8% to $73.91 per ounce after a significant drop. CME raised margins on precious metals to reduce risks.
China maintains its nuclear forces at the minimum necessary level and will not participate in nuclear disarmament talks. Beijing expresses regret over the expiration of the New START treaty between Russia and the United States.
On February 5, the New START Treaty, the last agreement limiting strategic nuclear weapons, expires. Military analyst Ivan Stupak spoke about the consequences for Ukraine and the world.
France and Great Britain are preparing a new modification of Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, based on the successful experience of their use in Ukraine. The development of the Mk2 version will begin in 2026, focusing on improving guidance systems.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the need for China's participation in nuclear arms limitation talks. This is due to the significant growth of the country's nuclear arsenal.
The US President believes that many positive results related to President Xi Jinping and the People's Republic of China will be achieved within the next three years.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping assessed relations between their countries as "exemplary" during their first direct talks this year. Bilateral trade has exceeded $200 billion for three consecutive years.
Ford and Geely are negotiating a strategic partnership for joint production and technology sharing in Europe. This will allow Geely to operate more efficiently in the region and reduce costs.
Porsche AG is considering discontinuing its electric Boxster and Cayman 718 sports car lineup due to development delays and rising costs. This is attributed to budget constraints and declining sales in China.
Despite pressure, Russian oil supplies remain stable. China has become the largest buyer, increasing purchases, while India has reduced them to their lowest level in over three years.
International sanctions and the outflow of technology have pushed Russia out of the global space race, while the US and China are preparing missions to the Moon. The Russian space industry is experiencing a crisis, cooperating only with individual countries in Asia and Africa.