Graffiti insulting Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Lytvynenko appeared in the center of the Serbian city of Novi Sad. This happened a day after the monument to Taras Shevchenko was damaged.
The US introduced new import tariffs at the end of February 2026. Ukraine was among the countries in the EBRD region that experienced the largest increase in tariffs.
Serbian law enforcement agencies have detained two men on suspicion of plotting to assassinate President Aleksandar Vučić and his family. They are accused of conspiring to violently overthrow the constitutional order and attacking Interior Ministry employees.
In Bulgaria, police are investigating the deaths of six people in the Balkan Mountains, found within a week. The case is linked to a non-governmental organization and is being considered as a mass murder or ritual suicide.
Former footballer Iya Andrushchak has become the head coach of the Ukrainian women's national team, replacing Volodymyr Pyatenko. The team will start their 2027 World Cup qualifiers in a difficult group with Spain, England, and Iceland.
Serbia plans to purchase gas through the EU's joint procurement mechanism to reduce its dependence on Russia. The country aims to secure approximately 500 million cubic meters of fuel annually through the EU initiative.
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.
A rally titled "Knowledge is Power" was held in Belgrade to protest government pressure on the academic community. Participants accuse the authorities of persecuting teachers and students for their civic stance.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the peace plan for Ukraine envisages its accession to the European Union on January 1, 2027. However, he noted that some EU member states, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, would not agree to this.
Hungarian MOL Group has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire a 56. 15% stake in Serbian NIS from Russian "Gazprom Neft". The deal requires approval from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control due to sanctions.
In Serbia, students protested against the Vučić government, demanding a fight against corruption. The reason was a railway station disaster that claimed 16 lives.
Hungarian energy company Mol Nyrt. is nearing a takeover of Serbia's sole oil refinery as U.S. sanctions force Russia's Gazprom Neft PJSC to sell its controlling stake. Hungary will ask U.S. authorities to lift sanctions on the Serbian refinery.
Serbian company NIS, controlled by Gazprom Neft, received the first batches of oil for the refinery in Pančevo. This will allow the plant to operate at full capacity for at least nine days.
The Serbian oil refinery NIS, owned by Russia and under US sanctions, will start operating on January 17 or 18. This became possible after receiving a temporary license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department.
Investigators suspect that sparklers on champagne bottles caused a fire in a bar at a Swiss ski resort. 40 people died, 119 were injured.
Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe in 2025 decreased by 44% to 18 billion cubic meters, which is the lowest figure since the mid-1970s. This happened after the closure of the Ukrainian route and the cessation of fossil fuel imports from Russia.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced the dismantling of tent camps in Belgrade after student protests. He also confirmed the reinstatement of compulsory military service from 2026 for men aged 19-27 for 75 days.
The Vetëvendosje party won 50. 8% of the votes in Kosovo's parliamentary elections, securing a third term for leader Albin Kurti. This is the party's fourth consecutive election victory.
The Serbian government has supported negotiations between NIS's Russian owners and Hungarian MOL regarding the sale of a controlling stake. The aim of the deal is to remove the country's largest energy company from under US sanctions.
The draw for the group stage of the 2026/2027 Nations League will take place on February 12, 2026, in Brussels. The Ukrainian national team will compete in League B.
Banks in a number of countries around the world have begun to massively block accounts of Russians and tighten checks on their transactions. This is happening after Russia was included in the list of high-risk countries by the European Commission.
The United Kingdom has cut funding for countering Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans from £40 million to £24 million for 2025-26. This funding is aimed at combating national security threats and strengthening democratic institutions.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's plane was damaged at Brussels airport, rendering it unairworthy. Fico also expressed support for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who did not attend the summit, protesting against the EU's unfair treatment of Serbia.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that his country will not participate in the meeting of EU leaders with their counterparts from the Western Balkans. This is Vučić's personal decision, who claims to be protecting the interests of Serbia, which has made little progress in its bid to join the EU.
The US has denied Serbia a license to operate the Russian-owned NIS refinery in Pančevo, blocking crude oil supplies. This jeopardizes the stability of the country's fuel market and leads to daily losses of 370,000 euros.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Volodymyr Tolkach from the post of Ukraine's Ambassador to Serbia. Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who previously headed the Foreign Intelligence Service and served as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), has been appointed to this position.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Minister of Defense, Zukan Helez, denied permission for a Hungarian military aircraft carrying Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to land. The reason cited was Hungary's support for actions undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty and the lack of explanation regarding the use of a military aircraft.
Russia decided to sell a 56. 15% stake in the Serbian oil and gas company NIS after US sanctions. The buyer's name has not yet been disclosed; the majority of shares are controlled by Gazprom Neft.
Ukraine and eight other countries have joined the EU's decision to impose sanctions against the leadership of Transnistria. These countries will ensure that their national policies align with this decision.
According to the Serbian leader, his country found itself "between a hammer and an anvil. " This is what forces Belgrade to invest heavily in its own defense.
