The International Olympic Committee is exploring the possibility of holding the Winter Olympic Games in January and the Paralympic Games in February. This is due to the shrinking number of locations with stable snow cover in March.
French President Emmanuel Macron's chief diplomatic advisor, Emmanuel Bonne, visited Moscow. The purpose of the visit was to secure Europe a seat at the negotiating table regarding the security architecture and the end of the war in Ukraine.
The EU Council has approved a legal framework for providing Ukraine with financial support of 90 billion euros, with the exception of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. The funds will be directed to budget support and defense needs, and the first payment is expected in early Q2.
EU ambassadors reached an agreement on a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. The European Parliament is likely to vote next week.
Spain and Greece propose banning teenagers from using social media, following Australia's example. This decision is part of the tightening regulation of social media in Europe.
French police searched X offices, and Elon Musk was summoned for questioning on April 20. The investigation concerns algorithm abuse, fraudulent data extraction, and possible complicity in the dissemination of child pornography.
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.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that all financial aid to Ukraine comes from Europe. He also noted that a significant part of intelligence and military support is also European.
Mehdi Mahmudyan, co-writer of the screenplay for the film "It Was Just an Unfortunate Accident," has been arrested in Tehran. The arrest occurred after he signed a statement condemning the leader of the Islamic Republic.
Iran has officially declared the armed forces of European Union countries "terrorist groups. " This was in response to the EU's recognition of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
The Ukrainian futsal team finished its performance at Euro 2026, losing to France 2:4 in overtime of the quarter-finals. The main time ended in a 1:1 draw, but in extra time the French scored three goals.
The Ukrainian national futsal team will face France on January 31 in the quarterfinals of the European Championship 2026. The match will take place in Riga at 5:00 PM, with bookmakers favoring Ukraine.
In February 2026, five new films of various genres will be released in Ukrainian cinemas. Among them are the drama "Wuthering Heights", the thriller "Road to Crime", and a documentary about Elvis Presley.
On January 30, the world celebrates Croissant Day, a pastry with a 300-year history, which, despite popular belief, originated not in France, but in Austria. UNN offers to get acquainted with interesting facts about croissants and the 5 best recipes.
On January 30, the draw for the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 season playoffs took place in Switzerland. The matches will be held on February 19 and 26, and the winners will advance to the round of 16.
The draw for the 2025/26 Champions League playoff round has taken place, with 16 teams competing for a spot in the round of 16. Among the participants are Ukrainian footballers and their clubs, who have learned their opponents.
The IAEA Board of Governors held an emergency meeting regarding nuclear risks from Russia's systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. IAEA head Rafael Grossi confirmed that these attacks fall under the organization's mandate and pose direct nuclear risks.
The French Air and Space Force conducted exercises simulating an offensive operation against a high-tech adversary. A key element was the launch of SCALP cruise missiles from Rafale fighters in a scenario close to combat operations with Russia.
France is working on a bill to ban social media for children under 15, following the example of Australia and Denmark. In Ukraine, restrictions are only discussed at the level of ideas.
EU foreign ministers have approved new sanctions against Iran for suppressing protesters and supporting Russia. A political agreement is also expected on including the IRGC on the list of terrorist organizations.
Ukraine could become significantly less dependent on American intelligence as Europe is ready to provide information. This would reduce the criticality of a halt in American aid.
France will increase pressure on Russia and is preparing new sanctions at the European level. This comes after condemning Russia's attack on a passenger train in the Kharkiv region.
The French National Assembly unanimously approved the abolition of "marital duty. " This clarifies the absence of an obligation to engage in sexual relations within marriage.
The European Union is preparing to list Iran's IRGC as a terrorist group after a change in France's position. This decision will be a response to the brutal suppression of protests in Iran and will lead to the freezing of the organization's assets.
The Ukrainian national futsal team defeated the Czech Republic 5:3 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 European Championship. Their next opponent will be the French national team.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. Ukraine will receive generators from France, as well as additional supplies of aircraft, missiles for air defense systems, and aerial bombs.
Anastasiia Merkusyna won a gold medal at the 2026 European Biathlon Championships in Sjusjøen, Norway, completing the individual race without misses. This is Ukraine's first award at these competitions.
France will ban civil servants from using American video conferencing platforms. This decision is part of efforts to transfer government activities to its own technological platform.
In Paris, unknown individuals vandalized the Galerie L art gallery, where 22-year-old Elizaveta Krivonogikh, whom the media calls Putin's illegitimate daughter, works. Vandals damaged display windows and left anti-Russian slogans, including "F*ck Putin."
