Finland
The United States has slowed down the sale of international assets of Russian oil giant Lukoil to put pressure on Russia in peace talks on Ukraine. OFAC extended the deadline for concluding deals until April 1, and the next round of negotiations between the US, Russia, and Ukraine is scheduled for March.
France will not boycott the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina on March 6. This decision was made despite the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the competitions under national flags.
President Zelenskyy met with U4U MEPs. They discussed the restoration of Ukraine's energy system and the scaling up of the PURL program.
The Finnish Paralympic Committee refused to participate in the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Paralympics. This decision is a protest against the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to competitions under national symbols.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight arrived in Kyiv. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha welcomed them in the capital.
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).
A teenager from Kryvyi Rih received social, psychological, and medical assistance after his father was detained by the TCC. The boy's mother, who lives in Finland, plans to take her son to live with her.
Poland will denounce the Ottawa Convention from February 20, 2026, to produce anti-personnel mines for border protection. The decision is part of the "Eastern Shield" strategy due to Russian aggression and the experience of the war in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled a meeting with European leaders on the war in Ukraine at the Munich Conference. This raised concerns in Europe about a change in sentiment in Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. They discussed diplomatic work, the situation at the front, and joint weapons production, as well as Finland's 32nd package of military aid.
Northern European countries are concerned that the EU loan to Ukraine could lead partners to abandon bilateral support. This renews discussions about burden-sharing between Northern and Southern Europe.
The Estonian Foreign Intelligence Department reports that the Kremlin is trying to restore political influence in the Baltic region through controlled academic structures. The "Baltic-Scandinavian Macroregion" project is coordinated by the Russian Presidential Administration and is a hybrid influence operation.
NATO has announced the launch of the Arctic Century initiative to consolidate military activities in the High North. This will strengthen deterrence in the face of increasing Russian military activity and China's growing interest.
Captain of the container ship NewNew Polar Bear, Wang Wenguo, pleaded not guilty in the case of damage to underwater infrastructure between Finland and Estonia. A Hong Kong court is considering charges of criminal damage caused by the ship's anchor.
In Kyiv, 63 teams are working on restoring power grids, and over 220 teams are restoring heat supply. NJSC "Naftogaz" is ready to provide another 40 teams of specialists.
In January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held 20 meetings and 14 telephone conversations, visiting France, Cyprus, Switzerland, and Lithuania. Following these contacts, Ukraine received NASAMS air defense missiles from Norway, the 31st package of military aid from Finland, and significant energy support from other partners.
Finland has detected low concentrations of radioactive substances in the air, posing no risk to people. The source of the detected substances has not been identified, and they do not originate from Finnish nuclear power plants.
As of this evening, 610,000 consumers in Kyiv remain without electricity. Ukraine is attracting international aid, having received 437 generators and expecting more than 500.
Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal held a meeting of the Staff, where they discussed replacing the generation of damaged thermal power plants and humanitarian aid from partners. Ukraine received 31 tons of equipment from Spain, Finland, Norway, and Austria, and expects new deliveries.
Beijing demonstrated restraint at the World Economic Forum, contrasting with Washington's aggressive rhetoric. China aims to become a predictable partner for the EU, attracting Western investment and benefiting from the cooling relations between the US and the European Union.
The United States and Norway have begun deploying troops for the "Cold Response 26" exercise in the High North. Approximately 3,000 U.S. Marines are arriving in January to train in extreme winter conditions before the active phase of the maneuvers in March 2026.
The winter of 2026 became one of the most difficult periods for Ukraine due to massive Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The international community is providing comprehensive assistance to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ukraine received 50 tons of humanitarian aid from the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, and Norway. The aid includes transformers, generators, and other energy equipment.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that Europe is capable of defending itself from attack. He cited Finland as an example of military potential and emphasized the importance of comprehensive security.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has expressed a desire to meet with Donald Trump to discuss Greenland, proposing "sauna diplomacy. " Stubb is also concerned that attention to Greenland could distract from Ukraine.
European countries, including Norway, Germany, Poland, and the Baltic states, are actively preparing for a potential war with Russia by increasing defense budgets and strengthening infrastructure. Some states, like Norway, are considering the possibility of confiscating civilian property for defense needs.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared the inviolability of Greenland's and Denmark's sovereignty. She emphasized the strengthening of security measures in the Arctic and the EU's readiness to cooperate with the US.
A year has passed since the inauguration of Donald Trump, marked by a decrease in illegal immigration and the failure of his promise regarding the war in Ukraine. There were also conflicts with Elon Musk, the 'Epstein files' scandal, and tensions with European allies over Greenland.
The traditional Ukrainian Breakfast in Davos on January 22 will discuss ways to end the war and overcome challenges. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as well as the leaders of Latvia, Finland, the Netherlands, and Croatia, will participate.
On January 20, the World Economic Forum will host a session titled "The Path to Peace in Ukraine: By Force or Consent?". Participants will discuss the possibility of achieving a just peace and security guarantees.